# @the.tournament on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Ceo9BtiOTtp
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/7174427-thetournament-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/1c5e61ddf9.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-06-10T21:30:10.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** TBT (@the.tournament) — https://gondola.cc/the.tournament

## Caption

The RETURN of Zhaire Smith!!!

Zhaire has had a crazy comeback story like no other. He nearly died in 2018 and will play basketball this summer for the first time since injuring his knee 2 years ago.

The former first round pick of the 2018 NBA Draft has had a wild and heartbreaking journey back to the court.

In the fall of 2018, Smith suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot that would keep him out for quite some time. Then just a month later, his physical health would take a turn for the worse. After eating a chicken meal at the 76ers practice facility, Smith had a severe allergic reaction to something containing nuts in the meal (he is severely allergic to peanuts). 

This life-threatening allergic reaction caused hives to begin forming all over his body, followed by constant throwing up. Smith tried to administer his Epi-pen, but it had expired and was ineffective. He eventually collapsed and was transported to Cherry Hill Hospital in New Jersey. 

While at the hospital, doctors found a hole in his esophagus. Zhaire was then given tubes to feed him and to keep fluids from leaking into his lungs. Smith was bed-ridden in constant pain, unable to eat or drink and too weak to do any physical activities. 

Eventually, right before Thanksgiving, he returned home. However, he was down to 160 pounds and had a feeding tube, three other tubes, and a 24-hour nurse. 

Later on in December, Smith was finally cleared to shoot. Zhaire didn't want his teammates to see him and see how weak he had become, so he would go get shots up at 4:30 in the MORNING!

He would later return to action for the 76ers G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. After playing 10 games, he then earned a spot back on the 76ers bench before their playoff run in 2019. In the last game of the regular season, Smith scored 17 points in 32 minutes!!

However, this wouldn't be the end of his unfortunate journey with injuries. Beginning in the Summer of 2020, he suffered a knee injury that would keep him sidelined for the last 2 years.

Now, he is finally back and healthy again!! 

He will be suiting up for the Air Raiders (Texas Tech alumni) this summer in TBT 2022. 🙌 🔴⚪️

## Stats

- **Views:** 8,180
- **Likes:** 717
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 11

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| TBT | @the.tournament | https://gondola.cc/the.tournament | Sports Tournament |
| Maurice Richardson | @mo_20 | https://gondola.cc/mo_20 | Social Media Manager |
| Maurice Richardson | @mo_20 | https://gondola.cc/mo_20 | Copywriter |

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