Last Updated on October 3, 2026 by Candida Lucia
Malachi Smith comes from a family whose military background and strong work ethic played a major role in his journey to professional basketball. Born on December 6, 1999, in Evansville, Indiana, the Toronto Raptors guard is the son of Courtney Smith and Connie Smith. He also has two siblings, a brother named Ezekiel and a sister named Kailyn.
Smith spent part of his childhood living in Spain because of his parents’ military service. His mother later raised him as a single mother and became one of the biggest influences on his life. Basketball also runs in his maternal family: his grandfather, Larry Knight, was selected in the first round of the 1979 NBA Draft.
Who Is Malachi Smith’s Girlfriend?
Malachi Smith has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend, fiancée or wife. Despite spending several years in professional basketball and eventually reaching the NBA, Smith has kept his romantic life largely outside the public spotlight.
Reliable biographies from his college programs, the NBA and established sports publications focus primarily on his basketball career and his close relationship with his mother rather than his dating life.
As of now, there is no well-sourced public information identifying Malachi Smith’s current girlfriend. That does not necessarily mean he is single; it simply means that he has chosen not to publicly disclose a relationship.
Is Malachi Smith Married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Malachi Smith is married.
No established NBA source or major sports publication has reported a wedding involving Smith, and he has not publicly introduced anyone as his wife.
Claims about his marital status appearing on unverified biography or social-media pages should therefore be treated cautiously.
Does Malachi Smith Have Children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Malachi Smith has children.
His official basketball biographies and recent NBA coverage do not identify him as a father. As of now, Smith has no publicly documented son or daughter.
Who Are Malachi Smith’s Parents?
Malachi Smith’s parents are Courtney Smith and Connie Smith. Wright State, Chattanooga and NBA G League records have all identified Courtney and Connie as his parents.
Both parents also have military backgrounds. Connie and Courtney met while they were serving on active duty at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Connie Smith – Malachi Smith’s Mother
Connie Smith is Malachi Smith’s mother and arguably the most influential person in his upbringing. Smith has repeatedly credited her work ethic, discipline and sacrifices with shaping the way he approaches basketball and life.
Connie joined the United States Air Force immediately after high school at the age of 18. She initially worked in supply-chain logistics and later served with a military protocol team supporting a four-star general.
She gave birth to Malachi when she was 20 and stationed in Indiana.
Military life meant that mother and son sometimes spent long periods apart. Connie was deployed to Afghanistan and other locations in the Middle East while Malachi was young, requiring them to communicate through occasional calls and Skype conversations.
Malachi Smith Lived in Spain as a Child
Shortly after Malachi’s first birthday, the family moved to southern Spain and lived near Naval Station Rota.
Smith spent approximately four years in Spain. His mother’s military duties sometimes took her away from the family, but she made an effort to remain connected even during deployments.
Smith has recalled that on one occasion Connie knew she would miss his birthday, so she prepared a birthday card for him before leaving. He later described moments like that as evidence that his mother was always thinking about him even when military responsibilities kept them apart.
Connie Raised Malachi Smith as a Single Mother
After leaving the military, Connie raised Malachi as a single mother while beginning a civilian career and continuing her own education.
She completed both an undergraduate degree in human resources management and a master’s degree in business administration while working and raising her son.
Smith has said watching his mother work, study and take care of the household became one of the main reasons he developed such a strong work ethic.
He was given responsibilities from a young age, including household chores that helped him become independent. Smith later said that these expectations forced him to mature quickly.
Why Does Malachi Smith Sometimes Use the Name Knight-Smith?
Malachi has publicly used Malachi Knight-Smith on social media as a tribute to his mother’s maiden name, Knight.
Connie said she appreciated her son choosing to acknowledge that side of the family. The name also connects Malachi to his maternal grandfather, former professional basketball player Larry Knight.
Courtney Smith – Malachi Smith’s Father
Courtney Smith is Malachi Smith’s father. Like Connie, Courtney served in the United States military.
Connie met Courtney while both were stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Their military careers later took the family to Spain during the early years of Malachi’s childhood.
Courtney also had an interest in basketball. While the family was living in Spain, he played for a basketball team on the military base.
Connie recalled that watching his father play for the base team provided one of Malachi’s earliest exposures to organized basketball.
Courtney maintains a much lower public profile than Connie, and relatively little reliable information about his current personal or professional life has been published.
Who Are Malachi Smith’s Siblings?
Malachi Smith has two publicly documented siblings: a brother named Ezekiel and a sister named Kailyn.
Chattanooga’s official biography directly identifies Ezekiel and Kailyn as Smith’s siblings, while NBA G League materials provide the same family information.
Unlike Malachi, neither sibling has developed a major public profile through professional sports, so reliable information about their personal lives remains limited.
Ezekiel Smith – Malachi Smith’s Brother
Ezekiel Smith is Malachi Smith’s brother. He is identified in Malachi’s official college and professional basketball biographies.
However, Ezekiel has remained largely outside the public spotlight. Established sports sources provide little information about his education, occupation or whether he pursued competitive basketball himself.
Because he is a private individual, additional details should not be assumed from people with similar names on social media.
Kailyn Smith – Malachi Smith’s Sister
Kailyn Smith is Malachi Smith’s sister. Like Ezekiel, she is listed in official basketball records as one of Malachi’s two siblings.
Kailyn has maintained a private life, and there is little reliable public information about her career or education.
Most detailed reporting about the Smith family has focused on Malachi’s relationship with his mother and the family’s military background rather than his siblings.
Who Is Malachi Smith’s Grandfather?
Malachi Smith’s maternal grandfather is Larry Knight, a former professional basketball player and NBA Draft pick.
Knight starred at Loyola Chicago and became one of the leading college players of his era. During his senior season, he averaged more than 20 points and 14 rebounds per game.
The Utah Jazz selected Knight with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 1979 NBA Draft.
Although he did not establish an NBA playing career, Knight continued playing professionally in other leagues, including the Continental Basketball Association and overseas.
His professional career took the family to different places, including Europe, meaning Connie herself experienced an international childhood before later joining the Air Force.
Basketball Runs in Malachi Smith’s Family
Larry Knight’s basketball career gives Malachi a direct connection to professional basketball through his mother’s side of the family.
However, Smith has emphasized that his biggest influence was not simply inherited basketball talent. Instead, he frequently points to his mother’s work ethic and the discipline he learned from growing up in a military family.
That background became particularly important because Smith was not considered an elite national prospect coming out of high school.
Rather than arriving in college as a highly ranked recruit, he gradually built his career through several programs and relied heavily on improvement and persistence.
Malachi Smith’s Journey From Wright State to Gonzaga
Smith began his college basketball career at Wright State during the 2018-19 season. He earned Horizon League All-Freshman recognition before transferring to Chattanooga.
His career took a major step forward with the Mocs. During the 2021-22 season, Smith averaged 19.9 points per game and was named Southern Conference Player of the Year.
He also won the Lou Henson Award, presented to one of the leading mid-major players in college basketball.
Smith then transferred to Gonzaga for the 2022-23 season. Playing on one of the country’s most prominent programs, he accepted a reserve role and was named West Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year.
His willingness to adjust his role while continuing to compete at a high level reflected the team-first mentality he had developed throughout his college journey.
Malachi Smith’s Journey to the NBA
Smith was not selected in the 2023 NBA Draft, but he continued pursuing professional basketball through the NBA G League.
He played for the Rip City Remix, Wisconsin Herd, Memphis Hustle and Long Island Nets while attempting to earn an NBA opportunity.
His breakthrough came with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2025-26 season. Smith earned NBA contracts after strong performances in the G League and appeared in 15 games for Brooklyn.
He averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in those appearances while shooting efficiently from both the field and three-point range.
Malachi Smith Joined the Toronto Raptors
After leaving Brooklyn during the 2026 offseason, Smith signed with the Toronto Raptors in August 2026.
Toronto subsequently converted his contract to a two-way deal in September, allowing him to spend time with both the Raptors and Raptors 905.
The move represented another milestone in a career that had required Smith to progress from an overlooked high-school prospect to Wright State, Chattanooga, Gonzaga, multiple G League teams and eventually the NBA.
FAQ About Malachi Smith’s Family
Who is Malachi Smith’s girlfriend?
Malachi Smith has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through a reliable major source. His current relationship status remains private.
Is Malachi Smith married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Malachi Smith is married.
Does Malachi Smith have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Malachi Smith has children.
Who are Malachi Smith’s parents?
Malachi Smith’s parents are Courtney Smith and Connie Smith.
Who is Malachi Smith’s mother?
Malachi Smith’s mother is Connie Smith, a former United States Air Force member who largely raised him as a single mother and became one of the biggest influences on his life.
Who is Malachi Smith’s father?
Malachi Smith’s father is Courtney Smith. He also served in the military and played basketball for a team on the military base where the family lived in Spain.
Did Malachi Smith’s mother serve in the military?
Yes. Connie Smith served in the United States Air Force, initially working in supply-chain logistics and later with a military protocol team.
Does Malachi Smith have siblings?
Yes. Malachi Smith has a brother named Ezekiel and a sister named Kailyn.
Who is Malachi Smith’s grandfather?
His maternal grandfather is Larry Knight, who was selected 20th overall by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 1979 NBA Draft and later played professional basketball in other leagues.
Why does Malachi Smith use Knight-Smith?
Smith has used Malachi Knight-Smith publicly as a tribute to his mother Connie’s maiden name, Knight.
Did Malachi Smith live in Spain?
Yes. Smith spent approximately four years living in Spain as a child while his family was stationed near Naval Station Rota.
Where was Malachi Smith born?
Malachi Smith was born in Evansville, Indiana, on December 6, 1999.
Candida Lucia is a sports journalist and NBA writer specializing in tactical game analysis, player development, and league coverage. With an eye for on-court execution and team dynamics, she delivers detailed breakdowns of strategy, roster updates, and key performance trends. Passionate about bringing readers closer to the game, Candida offers engaging insights on every aspect of the NBA season, from regular-season battles to the Finals.
