Sekou Smith facts for kids
Sekou Kimathi Sinclair Smith (born May 15, 1972 – died January 26, 2021) was an American sportswriter. He was famous for writing about the National Basketball Association (NBA).
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About Sekou's Early Life
Sekou Smith grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He went to Jackson State University and finished in 1997. He earned a degree in communications, which is about how people share information.
Sekou's Career in Sports
Sekou Smith started his writing career covering college sports. From 1994 to 2001, he wrote about football, basketball, and baseball for The Clarion-Ledger newspaper.
Writing About the NBA
Later, Smith became an NBA beat writer. This means he focused on covering a specific team or league very closely. He worked for The Indianapolis Star and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, spending four years at each newspaper.
In November 2009, Sekou joined Turner Broadcasting. He became a senior analyst for NBA Digital. He also created and wrote "Sekou Smith’s Hang Time Blog" on NBA.com. He hosted "The Hang Time Podcast" and was a senior analyst on NBA TV’s show The Beat.
Covering the NBA Bubble
In 2020, Sekou Smith was one of the few journalists allowed inside the NBA's "bubble." This was a special secure area at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. He covered the 2020 playoffs and the NBA Finals from inside the bubble.
Mentoring Others
Sekou was also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. He helped and guided many other writers and reporters in their careers.
Sekou's Family and Passing
Sekou Smith was married to his wife, Heather. They had three children together.
He passed away on January 26, 2021, in Marietta, Georgia. He was 48 years old. His death was due to complications from COVID-19.
