HOT
The Best of the Day: April 19th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from April 19, 2021 including Alex Smith announcing his retirement, Steph's amazing streak, and more!
USA TODAY Sports
The ‘Best of the Day’ is a daily PSO original series showcasing the most significant stories, highlights, and facts going on in the land of the NFL, NBA, & MLB every day. Get a recap on EVERYTHING that happened on 4/19 here.
After making a legendary comeback this past season from a devastating leg injury that sidelined him for two seasons, Alex Smith announced Monday that he is retiring from the NFL. Smith was one of the winningest quarterbacks over the last decade while playing for San Francisco, Kansas City, and Washington. Also, after his latest explosion (49 points vs. Philly), Steph Curry is in the midst of the most ridiculous tear by an NBA player in recent memory, the Joker put the team on his back in Denver’s win over Memphis, and the Suns outlasted the Bucks in OT during the game of the day.
Here is the best of the day from April 19, 2021:
3x Pro Bowler & 2020 Comeback POY Alex Smith retired from the NFL
Longtime QB Alex Smith announced his retirement on Monday after 16 NFL seasons. Smith, who turns 37 in May, was drafted No. 1 overall by the 49ers in 2005. He spent his first eight seasons in San Francisco, leading the 49ers to the NFC title game his last full season as a starter. However, he lost his starting spot to Colin Kaepernick after getting hurt midway through the 2012 season.
Alex Smith put on a show vs. the Saints in the 2011 Playoffs to lead the 49ers to victory.
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) April 19, 2021
• 299 PASS YDS
• 3 PASS TD
• RUSH TD pic.twitter.com/BVLxv175NT
Kaepernick never relinquished the starting job, leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance that season, and Smith was subsequently traded to Kansas City that offseason. He spent five seasons there, leading the Chiefs to four postseason appearances while earning three Pro Bowl nods. Then, in 2017, Kansas City drafted Patrick Mahomes 10th overall, allowing him to sit a year behind Smith before trading the veteran QB to Washington in 2018.
In his first season in Washington, Smith led the team to a 6-3 record before suffering a gruesome compound fracture in his right leg vs. Houston. The injury nearly cost him his life and leg, requiring 17 surgeries after the wound became infected. It took nearly two years of rehab and recovery before Smith made his improbable return to the football field in Week 5 after starter Kyle Allen went down.
Smith started six games in 2020, leading the team to a 5-1 record and helping the franchise capture the NFC East title at 7-9. However, he missed three of Washington’s final four games due to a bone bruise, including the team’s wild card loss to Tampa Bay. Smith’s incredible return to the gridiron was one of, if not the greatest returns in sports history, leading him to earn the 2020 Comeback Player of the Year.
Over the last decade, Smith won wherever he went, accumulating a 99-67-1 career record as a starter with the 49ers, Chiefs, and Washington while leading all three to the postseason a combined six times. He finished his career with a 62.6 CMP%, 35,650 PASS YDS, 199 TDs, 109 INTs, and an 86.9 QB RTG. His ability to win games throughout his career and then overcome so much adversity is why his legacy is cemented as one of the greatest comeback stories in sports.
Top 6 plays of Alex Smith’s career
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 20, 2021
(via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/CinbpcAdwr
Among quarterbacks with at least 10 career postseason touchdown passes, nobody had a better TD-Int ratio than Alex Smith.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 19, 2021
He broke the record previously held by Bart Starr, and sits ahead of the QB who replaced him in Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes. pic.twitter.com/MHbSERvY6L
Since Alex Smith entered the NFL in 2005, he is 1 of 3 QBs to win 30+ games for multiple teams, along with Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer (all 3 were former No. 1 overall picks).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 19, 2021
Smith is the only QB since the 1970 merger to win 40+ games in the AFC and NFC (h/t @EliasSports). pic.twitter.com/YpY1SJbupc
Best win percentage by a starting QB in the last 10 seasons (min. 50 starts):
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) April 20, 2021
Peyton Manning .789
Tom Brady .763
Aaron Rodgers .696
Alex Smith .688
Say what you want, but Alex Smith was always a WINNER! pic.twitter.com/tzw794W3LE
Related: Stories of the Day
STEPH CURRY IS ON A TEAR THE NBA WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE
Golden State is coming off a road win over the Eastern Conference’s top team, Philadelphia, and Steph Curry recorded another ridiculous performance as lit up Philly’s premier defense for 49 points and 10 threes on 50% shooting and 58.8% from deep. This has now marked his 11th straight game with 32+ points. Since his five-game absence, Curry has been simply unconscious.
The baby-faced assassin is averaging an insane 40 points per game over his last 11 contests. He is doing this all while averaging just above 50% from downtown. Curry is already the greatest shooter of all-time, but this stretch of games is like none that’s ever been seen before in NBA history. He actually has more games with 40+ points and 10+ threes (four) in the last eight days than any other player has had in their entire career.
More importantly for the team, they have went 7-4 games during Curry’s hot stretch including wins over top teams like Milwaukee, Denver, and Philadelphia. He is almost single-handedly keeping Golden State’s playoff hopes alive, and will have to continue to stay hot to do so. Regardless, this is the best stretch of shooting this league has ever seen by one player, and this is impressive even for the greatest shooter and best Warriors player of all-time.
COLORS KEY | FULL WARRIORS OUTLOOK
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
No stopping Evan White from catching this one
What. A. Catch. pic.twitter.com/TfhYAG1m3K
— MLB (@MLB) April 20, 2021
Related: MLB Highlights
C Nikola Jokic, DEN (W v.MEM): 47 PTS (20-31 FG | 2-6 3P), 8 AST, 15 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 7 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (4/19/21) - C Nikola Jokic, DEN
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 20, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- 2nd ever w/ 75 PTS/30 REB/15 AST over 2-GP span
- 1st Center w/ 45+ PTS/15+ REB/8+ AST since Hakeem
- Drained GW-3PM in 2OT thriller vs. MEM
KEY STATS:
47 PTS, 15 REB, 8 AST, 20-31 FG (65%), 2-6 3P https://t.co/dF8fUkqzLi
Related: Players of the Day
Phoenix Suns (128) [GW-FT in OT] vs. Milwaukee Bucks (127)
[Highlights] SUNS (+120) d. @BUCKS (-140) 128-127 (GW-FT in OT) [PHX +2.5 | o234]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
PSO Scouting Report: LB Micah Parsons (Penn St.) by Ricky Eisenbart
PSO breaks down Penn State LB Micah Parsons’ future outlook and how his game will translate to the next level
Micah Parsons' NFL Scouting Report:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 20, 2021
Physical Tools: A
Game Film: A
Production: ??
Risk: ??
Overall: ??
FULL evaluation: https://t.co/uFsUOes8dS
Related: Latest PSO Posts
DATE: April 19, 2017
SIGNIFICANCE: Russell Westbrook recorded the 1st 50-pt triple-double (51 PTS/13 AST/10 REB) in NBA playoff history
April 19, 2017: Oklahoma City Thunder PG Russell Westbrook recorded the highest scoring triple-double (51 PTS/13 AST/10 REB) in NBA postseason history during a 115-111 loss to the Houston Rockets
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 20, 2021
https://t.co/H0mWpftMx6
Related: Significant Sports History
Share the Best of the Day and follow below for more great sports content!
