Rockets guard Ishmael Smith was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Houston's NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced Monday. 

The assignment marks the 32nd time in the 2010-11 season an NBA player has been assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate, and it is the first assignment for Smith, a rookie out of Wake Forest.

Smith has appeared in 24 games this season for the Rockets, averaging 3.1 points, 2.4 assists and 1.5 rebounds.

Houston signed Smith, an undrafted free agent, in August. On the Rockets' 2010 NBA Summer League team, Smith averaged 7.8 points and a team-high 4.8 assists in five starts at point guard.