Kenny Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kenny Smith

Smith in 2015
Personal information
Born	(1965-03-08) March 8, 1965 (age 60) New York City, New York, U.S.
High school	Archbishop Molloy (Queens, New York)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
College	North Carolina (1983–1987)
NBA Draft	1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Pro career	1987–1997
Career history
1987–1990	Sacramento Kings
1990	Atlanta Hawks
1990–1996	Houston Rockets
1996	Detroit Pistons
1996–1997	Orlando Magic
1997	Denver Nuggets
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA champion (1994, 1995) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1988) Consensus first-team All-American (1987) First-team All-ACC (1987) 2× Second-team All-ACC (1985, 1986) No. 30 honored by North Carolina Tar Heels Second-team Parade All-American (1983) McDonald's All-American (1983)
Career NBA statistics
Points	9,397 (12.8 ppg)
Rebounds	1,454 (2.0 rpg)
Assists	4,073 (5.5 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States FIBA World Championship Gold 1986 Spain National team

Kenny Smith, born on March 8, 1965, is a famous American sports commentator. He used to be a professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). People called him "the Jet." He played for several teams from 1987 to 1997. These teams included the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets. Smith helped the Houston Rockets win two NBA championships in a row.

Before playing professionally, Smith played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels. He was recognized as a top college player in 1987. The Sacramento Kings picked him sixth overall in the 1987 NBA draft. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. After retiring from playing, Smith became a basketball commentator. He works for the Emmy Award-winning show Inside the NBA on TNT. He also helps analyze games for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Kenny Smith was born in Brooklyn, a part of New York City. He grew up in Queens. He started playing basketball at places like Riverside Church. He also played at Stephen A. Halsey Junior High School.

Smith went to Archbishop Molloy High School. His coach there was Jack Curran. Coach Curran holds the record for the most wins by a high school coach in New York. In 1983, Smith was named a McDonald's All-American. This means he was one of the best high school players in the country. After high school, he played college basketball at the University of North Carolina. His coach there was the legendary Dean Smith.

Kenny Smith gives credit to Bobby Lewis for helping him become a better shooter and ball handler. Bobby Lewis was a great college player himself. He created a special training program for basketball players. Smith used Lewis's drills throughout his career. He even teaches them at his own basketball camps today.

College Basketball Career

Kenny Smith joined a strong North Carolina team in 1983. This team included future NBA stars like Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins. The team was ranked number one before the season started. They finished with an impressive 28–3 record. Smith averaged 9.1 points and 5.0 assists per game.

In 1985, Smith led North Carolina to the Elite Eight. This is when only eight teams are left in the NCAA tournament. As a senior in 1987, he was named a Consensus All-American. He averaged 16.9 points and 6.1 assists per game. He helped North Carolina reach the Elite Eight again.

During his time at North Carolina, Smith averaged 12.9 points and 6.0 assists per game. He shot very well from the field and the free throw line. In 1986–87, the NCAA added three-point field goals. Smith shot 40.8% from three-point range that season. He is still one of the top players in school history for total assists and steals. Smith helped his team win 115 games and lose only 22. They also won the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championships twice.

Playing for Team USA

Smith also played for the United States in the 1986 FIBA World Championship. This team had other future NBA stars like David Robinson and Steve Kerr. Smith was the second-highest scorer on the team. He scored 23 points in the final game. This helped the US win the Gold Medal against the Soviet Union.

Professional Basketball Career

Sacramento Kings (1987–1990)

The Sacramento Kings chose Kenny Smith as the sixth pick in the 1987 NBA draft. He started playing for the Kings right away. In his first game, he scored 11 points and had five assists. Smith was a starter for the Kings. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in his first year. He averaged 13.8 points and 7.1 assists per game.

In his second season, Smith played even better. He averaged 17.3 points and 7.7 assists per game. In his third season, he took part in the NBA dunk contest. He showed off a unique dunk where he bounced the ball off the backboard. He almost won, but lost to Dominique Wilkins.

Atlanta Hawks (1990)

In the middle of the 1989–90 NBA season, Smith was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He became a reserve player for the first time. He played 30 games for the Hawks.

Houston Rockets (1990–1996)

Smith with the Rockets

After the 1989–90 season, Smith was traded to the Houston Rockets. In the 1990–91 NBA season, he averaged 17.7 points per game. He also led the Rockets in assists and free throw percentage. Even though Hakeem Olajuwon was injured for many games, Smith helped the Rockets have a great season. They finished with a 52–30 record.

With Olajuwon and other strong players, the Rockets became a championship team. The Rockets won two NBA championships in a row. They won in 1994 and 1995. Smith was their starting point guard for both wins. During these championship years, Smith averaged 11.7 points and 4.5 assists per game. He was also an excellent three-point shooter.

In the first game of the 1995 NBA Finals, Smith had an amazing performance. He scored 23 points and made seven three-pointers. One of his three-pointers tied the game and sent it into overtime. His seven three-pointers in that game set an NBA record at the time. The Rockets won that game and swept the Orlando Magic in four games.

Smith's playing time slowly decreased as Sam Cassell played more. However, Smith remained the Rockets' starting point guard through the 1995–96 NBA season. He still played well, averaging 8.5 points and 3.6 assists per game. The Rockets made it to the playoffs that year. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.

Later Career (1996–1997)

In September 1996, Smith signed with the Detroit Pistons. He played only nine games before being released. He then signed with the Orlando Magic in December 1996. He played just six games for them.

In 1997, Smith joined his third team of the season, the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 assists. He also helped guide the younger players on the team. Smith tried to join the New Jersey Nets in 1997 but did not make the team. He retired from playing shortly after.

Throughout his professional career, Kenny Smith scored 9,397 points. He also had 4,073 assists. He was known for his good shooting percentages. His career three-point percentage of .399 ranks high in NBA history. He also holds records for the Denver Nuggets and is among the leaders for the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats

Broadcasting Career

Smith (second from right) with the Inside the NBA crew in 2015

Kenny Smith started working for Turner Sports in 1998. He became a studio analyst for NBA games. He works on Inside the NBA with Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal. This show has won a Sports Emmy Award for being an outstanding studio show.

Smith also covered basketball for the 2001 Goodwill Games. He sometimes appears on NBA TV as an analyst. From 2005 to 2008, he provided commentary for New York Knicks games. He also works as an analyst for CBS/Turner during the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Many people know Kenny Smith more from his broadcasting work than from his playing days.

In 2010, Smith was part of the Texas team. They won the NBA All-Star Weekend Shooting Stars Competition. In 2017, Smith said that his 1994 Houston Rockets team would have beaten Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. This was if they had played each other in the NBA Finals.

On August 26, 2020, Smith walked off the set of Inside the NBA. He did this to show support for NBA teams that boycotted games. This boycott was in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake. The live show then became a discussion about fairness in America. In October 2022, Smith signed a new long-term contract. He continues to be a host on Inside the NBA.

Acting Career

Kenny Smith has also tried acting. He played a sports agent named Leon Rich. This was in the 2022 movie Hustle. The movie starred Adam Sandler and Juancho Hernangómez.

Personal Life

Kenny Smith has been married twice. He has two children from his first marriage. His daughter, Kayla, is an R&B singer. His son, K. J., played basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels. This is his father's old college team. K. J. is also a basketball analyst for On3.com.

Smith met English model Gwendolyn Osborne in 2004. They got married on September 8, 2006. They have two children together. Smith is also a stepfather to Osborne's daughter from a previous marriage. Gwendolyn Osborne used to be a model on The Price Is Right. They filed for divorce in 2018.

Smith earned a degree in Industrial Relations from UNC in 1987.

See also

In Spanish: Kenny Smith para niños