Kenny Smith, born on March 8, 1965, in Queens, New York, is a former professional basketball player and current sports commentator. Standing 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 170 pounds, he played point guard during his career. Smith attended Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens before playing college basketball for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels from 1983 to 1987. He earned consensus first-team All-American honors as a senior.
In the 1987 NBA Draft, Smith was selected sixth overall by the Sacramento Kings. Throughout his 10-year NBA career, he also played for the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets. Smith won back-to-back NBA championships with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995. He averaged 12.8 points and 5.5 assists per game over his career.
After retiring from playing, Smith transitioned to a broadcasting career. Since 1998, he has served as a studio analyst for TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” working alongside Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal. The show has won multiple Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Show. Smith also provides analysis for CBS and Turner during the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.
As of October 2024, Smith expressed enthusiasm about his upcoming free agency, as Warner Bros. Discovery’s NBA media rights are set to expire after the 2025-26 season. He humorously compared the attention he’s receiving to being the “pretty girl at the dance.”