WATCH: Josh Smith is finally free to take as many terrible shots as he wants in China

Former Atlanta Hawks star puts up big performance ... in a loss

It's still amazing that Josh Smith isn't in the NBA. The former Atlanta Hawk and Houston Rocket, who swung the 2015 Western Conference finals nearly on his own, wasn't signed as a free agent this summer and subsequently headed off to China to pick up the most money he could.

This week he had a big game vs. the Guangdong Tigers. He scored 41 points, shot 18 3-pointers ... and lost.

Smith is still on the near side of 30, is still athletic, was a major part of a winning team for years, and clearly can still put in work. Don't be surprised if he returns to the NBA after the season in China. That will mean he'll be able to join a contender and be playoff eligible.

So with the Warriors needing some athleticism off the bench on defense, and with the way they shoot 3-pointers, clearly this is going to be a great fit.

OK, maybe not, but still, Smith is too good not to be in the NBA, even with his frustrating shot selection and the way his game eroded in nearly record time.