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Memphis Grizzlies’ Rookie Russ Smith Patents Nickname

By Christian Dudley

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Apr 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Leandro Barbosa (19) fouls Memphis Grizzlies guard Russ Smith (2) on a shot with Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies’ rookie Russ Smith has formally patented his infamous trademark nickname. 

Memphis Grizzlies fans may not fully know about rookie Russ Smith just yet. They might, though, if they paid attention to his collegiate career when he was a key piece to a national championship team for the Louisville Cardinals.

Originally drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft nearly one year ago by the Philadelphia 76ers and quickly sent to the New Orleans Pelicans, Smith did not see many NBA minutes through the first half of his young professional career. He was eventually sent to the Memphis Grizzlies in a multi-team transaction. Russ did not receive many additional NBA minutes, but he was given a couple opportunities to really show his upside and he has brightened the Grizzlies’ future.

Jan 16, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Russ Smith (2) looks on against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Orlando Magic 106-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Russ Smith is full of offense. Despite his small stature, he can score on nearly anybody on the court. In college, he dunked more than once over current Los Angeles Lakers rookie Julius Randle. Smith loves draining clutch three-pointers, too. He can even grit-‘n’-grind on the defensive end. It will be fun to watch Smith as he develops for Memphis–where he will be able to show Grizz Nation why Louisville fans went insane for all of his buckets and therefore coined him as “Russdiculous.”

Recently, in an exclusive interview with The Courier-Journal, Russ Smith mentioned that he has officially received a patent for his nickname of “Russdiculous.”

Yes, Smith is referred to “Russdiculous” frequently enough to warrant the title to become a patented trademark to describe the Grizzlies’ rookie.

If you do not believe it, you can click here for full official documentation of Russ Smith’s patent.

Grizz Nation could get some extra enjoyment from this news tidbit by realizing that Russ Smith beat the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook for the patent to “Russdiculous.”

Though Smith did not receive regular playing time in the rotation this season, he did manage to play a few minutes in two postseason games for the Memphis Grizzlies. With a full season under his belt now, expect Russ to do big things for the Grizz in 2015-16.

Go Grizz!

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