Last Updated on October 3, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
Dru Smith’s family has remained an important part of his journey from Evansville, Indiana, to the NBA. Born Dru Hildry Smith on December 30, 1997, the Miami Heat guard is the son of Kendra Giles and Leonard Smith. He also grew up with siblings, including brothers Jaxon Giles and Daveon Smith, while his stepfather, Lavarus Giles, brought his own professional sports background to the family.
Smith has also built a family of his own. He is married to former University of Evansville basketball player Marley Miller, whom he met while both were college athletes. The couple married in 2021 and have remained together throughout Smith’s challenging path from undrafted prospect to an established member of the Miami Heat. Here is what is publicly known about Dru Smith’s wife, children, parents and siblings.
Who Is Dru Smith’s Wife?
Dru Smith’s wife is Marley Miller Smith, a former college basketball player who competed for the University of Evansville women’s team.
The couple met while attending the University of Evansville. At the time, Dru was beginning his college basketball career with the Purple Aces, while Marley was a 5-foot-7 guard on the women’s basketball team.
Their relationship developed gradually. Reporting from the Kansas City Star described Marley as initially knowing Dru simply as a quiet younger basketball player who occasionally spoke to her around campus. They eventually began dating and remained together after Dru transferred from Evansville to Missouri.
Who Is Marley Miller?
Marley Miller is originally from Olney, Illinois, and played guard at the University of Evansville.
She appeared for the Purple Aces during the same period that Dru Smith was part of Evansville’s men’s program. During the 2017-18 season, Marley appeared in 29 games and became a regular contributor for the women’s team.
Her basketball background gave the couple a shared understanding of the demands associated with college athletics, training schedules and competition.
After her playing career, Marley also worked in education. During Smith’s final season at Missouri, the Kansas City Star reported that she was teaching at Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School in Columbia, Missouri.
When Did Dru Smith and Marley Miller Get Married?
Dru Smith and Marley Miller married on June 12, 2021, in Robards, Kentucky.
The wedding came shortly after Smith completed his final college basketball season at Missouri. Their public wedding page carried the hashtag #SayingIDru.
The NBA now officially identifies Marley as Smith’s wife, confirming that the relationship that began during their Evansville years continued into his professional basketball career.
Dru Smith Values His Marriage
Smith’s official NBA biography provides an unusual detail about how important his marriage is to him.
When asked about his most prized possession, Smith identified his wedding ring because of what it represents.
Marley has also been publicly present with her husband at Miami Heat events. The couple attended the Miami Heat Charitable Fund gala together in January 2024.
The relationship has lasted through several difficult stages of Smith’s professional career, including roster uncertainty and significant injuries.
Does Dru Smith Have Children?
As of now, Dru Smith and Marley Smith do not have any publicly confirmed children.
Smith’s current NBA biography identifies Marley as his wife but does not list any children, and there has been no reliable public announcement from the couple confirming that they are parents.
Because Dru and Marley keep much of their family life private, it is best not to assume that they have children without direct confirmation.
Who Are Dru Smith’s Parents?
Dru Smith’s parents are Kendra Giles and Leonard Smith. Their names have appeared consistently in official biographies from Evansville, Missouri and the NBA.
Smith was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, where he became one of the city’s leading high school basketball players before beginning his college career close to home.
Dru Smith’s Mother: Kendra Giles
Kendra Giles is Dru Smith’s mother and has been one of the most publicly documented family members throughout his career.
Kendra raised her family in Evansville and supported Dru as his basketball career began developing at F.J. Reitz High School.
Family circumstances also appear to have influenced Smith’s initial college decision. When Dru committed to the University of Evansville, Kendra had recently given birth to his younger brother Jaxon.
Staying in his hometown allowed Smith to remain close to his mother and younger brother while beginning his NCAA career.
Kendra later told the Kansas City Star that having Jaxon at home was likely one of the factors that made Evansville attractive to Dru.
Dru Smith’s Father: Leonard Smith
Leonard Smith is Dru Smith’s father.
Official biographies from the University of Evansville, Missouri and the NBA consistently identify Leonard alongside Kendra Giles as Dru’s parents.
Leonard has maintained a much more private profile than his NBA-playing son, and authoritative public sources provide limited information about his profession or personal background.
For that reason, details beyond his confirmed relationship to Dru should not be assumed from unverified biography websites.
Who Is Dru Smith’s Stepfather?
Dru Smith’s stepfather is Lavarus Giles, a former professional football player.
Giles played college football as a running back at Jackson State University before receiving opportunities in professional football.
According to Smith’s NBA biography, Giles had stints with the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars.
He also played in the Canadian Football League with organizations including the Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
That professional sports background gave Smith another close family member who understood the demands associated with pursuing athletics beyond the college level.
Does Dru Smith Have Siblings?
Yes. Dru Smith has siblings, although his official biographies contain a small discrepancy regarding the total number.
Dru’s current NBA biography identifies two brothers: Jaxon Giles and Daveon Smith. Several Missouri basketball records also list those same two brothers.
However, an archived University of Missouri roster page lists four siblings: Jaxon, Jadlen, Riley and Daveon.
Because the NBA’s current biography specifically describes Jaxon and Daveon as his brothers, they are the two siblings whose relationship is most consistently documented. Jadlen and Riley also appear in an official Missouri record, but recent NBA material does not provide additional information about them.
Jaxon Giles
Jaxon Giles is one of Dru Smith’s younger brothers.
Jaxon was born around the time Dru was preparing to begin his college basketball career. His arrival became relevant to Smith’s recruitment because staying at the University of Evansville allowed Dru to remain close to his mother and new baby brother.
That family connection helped make playing college basketball in his hometown especially appealing.
Jaxon has remained outside the public spotlight, and reliable sources provide little additional information about his personal life.
Daveon Smith
Daveon Smith is Dru Smith’s other brother named in his current NBA biography.
Daveon has also maintained a private life. Unlike Dru, he has not developed a widely documented public career in professional basketball.
The NBA and Missouri both identify him as part of Smith’s immediate family, but additional biographical details are limited.
Jadlen and Riley
Jadlen and Riley appear alongside Jaxon and Daveon in one official University of Missouri biography that lists Dru as having four siblings.
Other Missouri materials and the NBA’s current biography list only Jaxon and Daveon as brothers. The available official records therefore do not fully explain the difference.
For accuracy, Jadlen and Riley can be identified as siblings named in Missouri’s records, but their exact family details should not be expanded beyond what the university has publicly documented.
Dru Smith’s Family and His Decision to Stay in Evansville
Smith became a standout basketball player at F.J. Reitz High School in Evansville.
During his junior year, he helped Reitz finish 29-2 and reach the Indiana Class 4A state championship game. As a senior, he averaged more than 20 points per game and earned Indiana All-Star recognition.
Despite having opportunities elsewhere, Smith initially chose his hometown University of Evansville.
The decision allowed him to remain near his family at an important time, particularly after the birth of younger brother Jaxon.
Smith spent two seasons with the Purple Aces and developed into one of the Missouri Valley Conference’s most efficient guards.
Dru Smith Met His Future Wife at Evansville
Choosing Evansville ultimately affected more than Smith’s basketball career because it was also where he met his future wife.
Marley Miller was playing for the women’s basketball team while Smith was competing for the men’s program.
Their friendship developed into a relationship, and Marley remained with him when Smith decided to transfer to Missouri.
By Smith’s final college season, the couple was engaged and preparing to marry following the completion of his basketball career with the Tigers.
They married in June 2021, only a few months before Smith began his pursuit of an NBA roster spot.
Dru Smith’s College Career at Missouri
After leaving Evansville, Smith transferred to the University of Missouri.
He sat out the 2018-19 season because of NCAA transfer rules before becoming one of the Tigers’ most important players.
During the 2019-20 season, Smith led Missouri in scoring, assists and steals while averaging 12.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
He improved further during his final season and earned First-Team All-SEC recognition from the league’s coaches.
Smith also completed a degree in finance at Missouri.
His NBA biography states that he hopes to work in financial advising and wealth management for professional athletes after his playing career ends.
Dru Smith’s Journey to the NBA
Smith went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, meaning his path to the league required considerably more patience than that of a first-round prospect.
He joined the Miami Heat for training camp and later spent significant time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA G League.
Smith also had a brief period with the Brooklyn Nets organization before returning to Miami.
His defensive ability, passing and willingness to accept different roles eventually helped him establish himself within the Heat organization.
Miami signed Smith to a standard NBA contract, and he continued earning opportunities despite multiple serious injuries interrupting his progress.
How Marley Supported Dru Smith Through His NBA Journey
Smith’s professional career has included significant adversity, making his family support particularly important.
He suffered a season-ending knee injury during the 2023-24 season and later sustained another major injury during the following campaign.
Throughout those setbacks, Marley remained beside him as he completed rehabilitation and worked toward returning to NBA competition.
Smith has publicly described his wife as an important source of support during difficult stages of his career.
That long-term partnership stretches from their days as college basketball players in Evansville through marriage and life together during Smith’s NBA career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dru Smith’s Family
Who are Dru Smith’s parents?
Dru Smith’s parents are Kendra Giles and Leonard Smith. Their names are confirmed by Evansville, Missouri and the NBA.
Who is Dru Smith’s mother?
Dru Smith’s mother is Kendra Giles. Smith remained in his hometown for the beginning of his college career partly because his family, including newborn younger brother Jaxon, was nearby.
Who is Dru Smith’s father?
Dru Smith’s father is Leonard Smith. He has maintained a private profile, and reliable sources provide limited information about his life outside his relationship to Dru.
Who is Dru Smith’s stepfather?
His stepfather is Lavarus Giles, a former Jackson State running back who had opportunities in both the NFL and CFL.
Who is Dru Smith’s wife?
Dru Smith’s wife is Marley Miller Smith, a former University of Evansville women’s basketball player.
How did Dru Smith meet his wife?
Dru and Marley met while both were basketball players at the University of Evansville. Their relationship continued after Dru transferred to Missouri.
When did Dru Smith get married?
Dru Smith and Marley Miller married on June 12, 2021, in Robards, Kentucky.
Does Dru Smith have children?
As of now, Dru Smith has no publicly confirmed children.
How many siblings does Dru Smith have?
His current NBA biography lists two brothers, Jaxon Giles and Daveon Smith. An archived Missouri biography lists four siblings: Jaxon, Jadlen, Riley and Daveon.
Who are Dru Smith’s brothers?
The NBA currently identifies Jaxon Giles and Daveon Smith as Dru Smith’s two brothers.
Who are Jadlen and Riley?
Jadlen and Riley are named as siblings in an official archived University of Missouri biography. Recent NBA material does not provide further details about them.
Where is Dru Smith from?
Dru Smith was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana.
What is Dru Smith’s full name?
His full name is Dru Hildry Smith.
What team does Dru Smith play for?
As of now, Dru Smith plays guard for the Miami Heat.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
