Kenny Smith

Last updated

Kenny Smith
Kenny Smith crop (cropped).jpg
Smith in 2015
Personal information
Born (1965-03-08) March 8, 1965 (age 59)
New York City, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school Archbishop Molloy
(Queens, New York)
College North Carolina (1983–1987)
NBA draft 1987: 1st round, 6th overall pick
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Playing career1987–1997
Position Point guard
Number30, 31
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
Career NBA statistics
Points 9,397 (12.8 ppg)
Rebounds 1,454 (2.0 rpg)
Assists 4,073 (5.5 apg)
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg United States
FIBA World Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1986 Spain National team

Kenneth Smith (born March 8, 1965), is an American sports commentator and former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Jet", he played in the NBA from 1987 to 1997 as a member of the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets. [1] Smith won back-to-back NBA championships with Houston.

Contents

Smith played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, earning consensus first-team All-American honors as a senior in 1987. He was selected by Sacramento in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft with the sixth overall pick, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team with the Kings. After retiring from playing, Smith became a basketball commentator for the Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA on TNT. He also works as an analyst for CBS/Turner during the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. [2]

Early life

Smith was born in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City [lower-alpha 1] and grew up in Queens, [3] spending time in the LeFrak City neighborhood.[ citation needed ] He played some of his earliest basketball at New York's Riverside Church and at Stephen A. Halsey Junior High School in Rego Park, Queens. Smith attended Archbishop Molloy High School, where he was coached by Jack Curran, the high school coach with the most wins in New York City and New York State history. [5] Smith was named a McDonald's All-American in 1983, then played basketball at the University of North Carolina for Dean Smith. [1] [6]

Kenny Smith credits former South Carolina State star Bobby Lewis with his development as a shooter and ballhandler. Lewis averaged 30.9 points per game and was a First Team Division II All-American as a senior at South Carolina State. He later developed the Bobby Lewis Basketball Skills Development Program, a training regimen that he presented at basketball camps around the country. Smith attended several of his lectures while in high school, and continued to use Lewis's drills throughout his basketball career, to this day teaching them at his own basketball camps. Of Lewis, Smith said, "He's the best lecturer ever. He had the best influence in terms of my workout regimen without question." [7]

College career

Kenny Smith joined junior Michael Jordan and senior Sam Perkins on a North Carolina team that was a pre-season #1 and finished the season ranked #1 with a 28–3 record. Smith averaged 9.1 points and 5.0 assists per game, and the Tar Heels lost to Indiana in the regional semifinals of the 1984 NCAA tournament. [8] [9] He led North Carolina to the Elite Eight in 1985, losing to eventual national champion Villanova. Smith was named a Consensus All-American (1st Team) as senior in 1987, averaging 16.9 points, 6.1 assists per game while helping North Carolina to return to the Elite Eight. Playing in a game that featured eleven future NBA players, Smith led the Tar Heels with 25 points and seven assists in a loss to Syracuse, 79–75. [10] [11]

During his career at North Carolina, Smith averaged 12.9 points and 6.0 assists per game, while shooting .512 from the field, and .823 from the free throw line. In 1986–87, the first season the NCAA added three-point field goals, Smith shot .408. [8] As of 2016, he ranks second in school history in total assists (768), fourth in total steals (195), and fifth in assists per game. [11] Smith helped North Carolina to a record of 115–22 from the 1983–84 to 1986–87 seasons, including two Elite Eight appearances (1985 and 1987) and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1986. They won the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season conference championships in 1984 and 1987, and tied for first in 1985. North Carolina never finished lower than eighth in the national polls during Smith's four years at the school. [11]

International career

Smith represented the United States in the 1986 FIBA World Championship, on a team that included David Robinson, Muggsy Bogues and Steve Kerr: the last to exclusively feature amateur American players. He was second on the team in scoring behind Charles Smith with 14.7 points per game. Smith scored 23 points to lead the US to an 87–85 win and the Gold Medal over a Soviet Union team that featured Arvydas Sabonis. [12] [13]

Professional career

Sacramento Kings (1987–1990)

The Sacramento Kings selected Smith with the sixth overall pick of the 1987 NBA draft. He made his NBA debut for the Kings in their season opener against the Golden State Warriors on November 6, 1987, scoring 11 points with five assists in Sacramento's win. [14] Under head coach Bill Russell [15] (who would step down as coach to become General Manager mid-way through the season), [16] Smith was immediately a starter in Sacramento, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team (1st Team) after averaging 13.8 points and 7.1 assists per game his rookie season. Smith began his NBA career playing for Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who was head coach for Kings until he was fired 58 games into the '87-88 season. [17]

In 81 starts his second season, Smith averaged 17.3 points, 7.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 38.8 minutes per game. In his third season, he competed in the dunk contest, and made it to the finals of the competition scoring high points for originality with his signature dunk—he started by turning his back to the basket, bouncing the ball backward between his legs and off the backboard, then turning and grabbing it in the air and reverse dunking it. [18] He narrowly lost to Dominique Wilkins—who would become his teammate just days later with the Atlanta Hawks. [19] [20]

Atlanta Hawks (1990)

Midway through the 1989–90 season, Smith was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Antoine Carr. [21] [22] [23] He was a reserve player for the first time in his career, averaging 7.7 points per game while only starting five of thirty-games he played for the Hawks as a backup to team captain Doc Rivers. [1]

Houston Rockets (1990–1996)

Smith with the Rockets Kenny smith houston cropped.jpg
Smith with the Rockets

After the 1989–90 season, Smith and Roy Marble were traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for John Lucas and Tim McCormick. [24] [25] [26] In 1990–91 Smith averaged 17.7 points per game while leading the Rockets in assists per game (7.1) and free throw percentage (.844). [27] Despite Hakeem Olajuwon missing 25 games due to injury, [28] [29] [30] [31] Smith helped the Rockets to a 52–30 record, the best regular season in franchise history at the time. He received votes for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (more than any Rockets teammate including Olajuwon), [32] and finished in third place in Most Improved Player voting. [33] [34]

With Olajuwon, Smith's former Sacramento teammate Otis Thorpe and fellow backcourt mate Vernon Maxwell, the Rockets had the foundation for a championship contender. [35] [36] Despite this, Houston started the 1991–92 season only 26–26, and Don Chaney was fired as coach and replaced by former Rocket player Rudy Tomjanovich. The Rockets then went 55–27 in 1992–93, losing to the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the playoffs in seven games. Smith helped to force a game seven against Seattle by scoring 30 points, shooting 4–6 from three-point range, in a Game 6 victory for Houston. [37] [38]

The Rockets won back-to-back championships in 1993–94 and 1994–95 with Smith as the starting point guard. From the 1992–93 to 1994–95 seasons, Smith averaged 11.7 points and 4.5 assists per game, with a three-point percentage of .425. In 57 playoff games during the same period, Smith had nearly identical averages of 11.6 points and 4.3 assists, shooting .456 from three-point range. [1]

The first of the two championships concluded a year that Houston started hot with a 22–1 record en route to a franchise-best 58–24 record. Their second championship came on the heels of a much different season; Maxwell left the team, Thorpe was traded for Clyde Drexler, and Houston finished the year going 18–18 in their final 36 games to finish third in the Midwest Division with a 47–35 record. [39] They would go on to still win the championship that season, becoming the lowest seeded playoff team to win the championship (with the statistically most difficult path to the championship). [40]

In the first game of the 1995 Finals against the Orlando Magic, Smith had 23 points, 9 assists and made seven three-pointers, including the game-tying shot which sent the game into overtime. Smith's 7 three pointers in the first game of the 1995 NBA Finals was an NBA record at the time. The Rockets won the game 120–118, and went on to sweep the Magic in four games. [41] [42]

Smith had been gradually losing playing time to Sam Cassell, [43] but he continued to be the Rockets' starting point guard through the 1995–96 season. Although Smith's points, assists, steals and minutes per game declined for the fifth straight season, he was still productive in 1995–96. He averaged 8.5 points and 3.6 assists per game, and shot .382 from three-point range and .821 from the free throw line. [1] The Rockets finished fifth in the NBA Western Conference with a 48–34 record, upsetting the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round before being swept in the second round by eventual Finals runner-up Seattle SuperSonics. [44] In game four of the series against the Lakers, Smith had 17 points, 6 assists and was 4–4 from three-point range to help the Rockets win the series clincher 102–94. The win against the Lakers also marked the final NBA game for Magic Johnson, who returned to the NBA that season after a five-year absence. [45] [46]

Detroit Pistons (1996)

On September 17, 1996, Smith signed with the Detroit Pistons. [47] [48] However he saw minimal playing time behind Lindsey Hunter and Joe Dumars, and was waived after only nine games to open a roster spot for Jerome Williams. [49]

Orlando Magic (1996–1997)

Smith signed with the Orlando Magic on December 18, 1996, [50] though he was released after just six games.

Denver Nuggets (1997)

In 1997, Smith then signed with his third team just that season, the Denver Nuggets. [1] Smith averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 assists while playing just under twenty minutes per game, also serving as a mentor for the young Denver team. Overall for the season, Smith averaged 6.3 points and 2.4 assists per game, the lowest averages of his career, while his three-point percentage of .437 (59/135) was the second highest of his career (and the fourth season in which he shot better than 40 percent on three-pointers). [1] He attended training camp in 1997 with the New Jersey Nets, but did not make John Calipari's final roster and retired shortly after. [51] [52]

In his professional career, Smith scored 9,397 points (12.8 avg.), recorded 4,073 assists (5.5 avg) while shooting .480 from the field, .399 from three-point range, and .829 from the free throw line. [1] He finished in the NBA top ten in three-point percentage three times (1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95), and top ten in free throw percentage twice (1992–93 and 1993–94). In the 1988–89 season Smith was fifth in the league in minutes played, seventh in minutes per game, and tenth in total assists. Smith's career three-point percentage of .399 42nd in NBA history through 2010. [1] Through 2016 Smith held the Denver Nuggets franchise record for career three-point percentage (.425), and ranked among the all-time leaders in several categories for the Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets. [53] [54] [55] [56]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
 † Won an NBA championship

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1987–88 Sacramento 616035.6.477.308.8192.37.11.5.113.8
1988–89 Sacramento 818138.8.462.359.7372.87.71.3.117.3
1989–90 Sacramento 464638.0.461.373.8092.66.61.2.215.0
1989–90 Atlanta 33529.4.480.167.8461.14.3.7.07.7
1990–91 Houston 787834.6.520.363.8442.17.11.4.117.7
1991–92 Houston 818033.8.475.394.8662.26.91.3.114.0
1992–93 Houston 828229.5.520.438.8782.05.41.0.113.0
1993–94† Houston 787828.3.480.405.8711.84.2.8.111.6
1994–95† Houston 818125.1.484.429.8511.94.0.9.110.4
1995–96 Houston 685623.8.433.382.8211.43.6.7.08.5
1996–97 Detroit 907.1.400.5001.000.61.1.1.02.6
1996–97 Orlando 607.8.462.6001.000.3.7.0.02.8
1996–97 Denver 33319.8.422.425.8541.13.1.5.07.9
Career73765030.1.480.399.8292.05.51.0.112.8

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1991 Houston 3337.7.474.500.8892.78.01.30.315.3
1993 Houston 121232.6.492.500.7782.04.20.80.114.8
1994† Houston 232330.3.455.447.8082.34.11.00.210.8
1995† Houston 222229.6.438.442.9002.24.50.60.110.8
1996 Houston 8823.9.434.3871.0001.54.80.60.08.9
Career686830.0.457.448.8472.24.50.80.111.5

Broadcasting career

Smith (second from right) with the Inside the NBA crew in 2015 Inside the NBA on TNT.jpg
Smith (second from right) with the Inside the NBA crew in 2015

Smith joined Turner Sports in early 1998, working as a studio analyst for end of the NBA regular season and the playoffs. [57] Smith works with Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal on Inside the NBA, a winner of the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Studio Show. [58] Smith covered basketball for the 2001 Goodwill Games, [57] and he occasionally appears on NBA TV as an analyst. Smith provided commentary for the MSG Network's broadcasts of New York Knicks games from 2005 to 2008 and works as an analyst for CBS/Turner during the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The New York Times has written that Smith's work in broadcasting has made him a household name, significantly boosting his public celebrity beyond what he had during his playing career. [59]

During the 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend, Smith was a member of the Texas team that won the Shooting Stars Competition. [60]

While on the Scoop B Radio Podcast in 2017, Smith told Brandon Scoop B Robinson that the 1994 Houston Rockets would have beaten Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had they faced each other in the NBA Finals. [61]

On the August 26, 2020 edition of Inside the NBA , Smith left the set as a show of solidarity with the six teams that elected to boycott the day's games in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake. The live broadcast, originally scheduled to lead into a double-header, was turned into a panel discussion of racial injustice in America after the announcement of the games' postponements. [62]

In October 2022, Smith signed a long-term contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports to continue as a host on Inside the NBA. [63]

Acting career

Kenny Smith played Leon Rich in the movie Hustle (2022), starring Adam Sandler and Juancho Hernangómez. [64]

Personal life

Smith has been married twice. He has two children from his first marriage: [65] Kayla, an R&B singer, [66] and K. J., a basketball player who played for the University of North Carolina, his father's alma mater, [67] from 2018 to 2021 and is a national basketball analyst with the website On3.com as of 2021. [68]

After divorcing his first wife, Smith met English model Gwendolyn Osborne in 2004 at a charity event. [69] They married on September 8, 2006. They have two children together. [69] Smith is also stepfather to Osborne's daughter from a previous marriage. [70] Osborne is a former model on The Price Is Right . [71] Gwendolyn Osborne filed for divorce in 2018. [72]

Notes

  1. ↑ In November 2012 via Twitter, Smith claimed to have been born in Brooklyn, New York City, while most sources claim his birthplace as Queens. [3] [4]

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Hakeem Olajuwon</span> Nigerian-American basketball player (born 1963)

    Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets, and in his last season, the Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest centers, as well as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Clyde Drexler</span> American basketball player (born 1962)

    Clyde Austin Drexler is an American former professional basketball player who currently works as the commissioner of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball league. Nicknamed "Clyde the Glide", he played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), spending a majority of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers before finishing with the Houston Rockets. He was a ten-time NBA All-Star and named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. Drexler won an NBA championship with Houston in 1995, and earned a gold medal on the 1992 United States Olympic team known as "The Dream Team". He was inducted twice into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2004 for his individual career and in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". Drexler is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooting guards of all time.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Sampson</span> American basketball player (born 1960)

    Ralph Lee Sampson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A 7-foot-4-inch (2.24 m) phenom, three-time college national player of the year, and first overall selection in the 1983 NBA draft, Sampson brought heavy expectations with him to the National Basketball Association (NBA).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Theus</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1957)

    Reginald Wayne Theus is an American basketball coach and former player. He played 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he was a two-time NBA All-Star. He is currently the men's basketball head coach and athletic director at Bethune–Cookman. He was the head coach for the NBA's Sacramento Kings and in college with the New Mexico State Aggies and the Cal State Northridge Matadors men's teams. He was also an assistant coach for the Louisville Cardinals under Rick Pitino.

    Clarence "Chucky" Brown Jr. is an American men's college basketball coach and former professional basketball player.

    The 1993–94 NBA season was the Houston Rockets' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 23rd season in Houston. The Rockets had the 24th overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, and selected Sam Cassell out of Florida State University. During the off-season, the team acquired Mario Elie from the Portland Trail Blazers. The Rockets went off to a great start, winning their first fifteen games of the season to tie the 1948–49 Washington Capitols for the best unbeaten record to open a season, while also posting a 14–0 record in November, before the Golden State Warriors surpassed it in 2015. After losing to the Atlanta Hawks, 133–111 on the road on December 3, the Rockets won their next seven games as well, falling just one victory shy of tying the 1969–70 Knicks (23–1) for the best record with one defeat in NBA history. However, the Rockets would cool off as the season progressed, at one point losing four games in a row in January. Still, they held a 34–12 record at the All-Star break, and finished first place in the Midwest Division with a 58–24 record, a franchise record that stood until the 2017-18 team recorded their 59th win.

    The 1994–95 NBA season was the Rockets' 28th season in the National Basketball Association, and 24th season in Houston. After winning their first championship, the Rockets went on to win their first nine games of the season. However, with increased competition in the West, management felt a change was needed to win another title.

    The 2001–02 NBA season was the Raptors' seventh season in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Raptors acquired All-Star center and 2-time NBA Champion Hakeem Olajuwon from the Houston Rockets. Throughout the season, All-Star guard and team captain Vince Carter struggled with a left knee injury, and managed to play just 60 games. Despite the injury, Carter averaged 24.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and was still voted to play in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, his third consecutive All-Star selection, but did not play due to his knee injury.

    The 1995–96 NBA season was the Rockets' 29th season in the National Basketball Association, and 25th season in Houston. In the off-season, the Rockets signed free agents Mark Bryant and Eldridge Recasner. After two straight NBA championships, the team changed their primary logo, which showed a light blue rocket flying past a red basketball with the team name "Rockets", and added new pinstripe uniforms adding dark navy blue to their color scheme.

    The 1990–91 NBA season was the Rockets' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and 20th season in the city of Houston. In the off-season, the Rockets acquired Kenny Smith from the Atlanta Hawks. The Rockets continued to play .500 basketball during the first half of the season, as Hakeem Olajuwon missed 25 games due to a bone fracture in his right eye. However, the Rockets showed improvement by holding a 27–21 record at the All-Star break, posting a 14–1 record in March, which included a 13-game winning streak. They finished third in the Midwest Division with a 52–30 record.

    The 1991–92 NBA season was the Rockets' 25th season in the National Basketball Association, and 21st season in the city of Houston. The Rockets started the season defeating the Los Angeles Lakers at The Summit in double-overtime 126–121, and got off to a fast start winning nine of their first twelves games. However, they would start to struggle losing five consecutive games afterwards, but managed to hold a 25–22 record at the All-Star break. By February 21, they hovered at .500 with a mediocre 26–26 record when head coach Don Chaney was fired and replaced with assistant Rudy Tomjanovich.

    The 1992–93 NBA season was the Rockets' 26th season in the National Basketball Association, and 22nd season in Houston. After missing the playoffs the previous year, the Rockets selected Robert Horry from the University of Alabama with the eleventh overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. During the off-season, the team acquired Scott Brooks from the Minnesota Timberwolves. For the season opener, the Rockets traveled overseas to Yokohama, Japan to play their first two games against the Seattle SuperSonics.

    The 1997–98 NBA season was the Rockets' 31st season in the National Basketball Association, and 27th season in Houston. After a slow 3–5 start to the season, the Rockets went on a nine-game winning streak winning 12 of their first 17 games. The team traveled to Mexico City, Mexico, where they defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 108–106 on December 6, 1997, which was the first NBA regular season game played in Mexico.

    The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Rockets' 33rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 29th season in the city of Houston. This season is notable for the Rockets acquiring top draft pick Steve Francis from the University of Maryland in a trade from the Vancouver Grizzlies; the Grizzlies had drafted Francis with the second overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft, but he refused to play for them. In the draft, the Rockets selected Kenny Thomas from the University of New Mexico with the 22nd overall pick. During the off-season, the team acquired Walt Williams, Kelvin Cato and Carlos Rogers from the Portland Trail Blazers, and signed free agent Shandon Anderson.

    The 1989–90 NBA season was the Hawks' 41st season in the National Basketball Association, and 22nd season in Atlanta. Injuries would hamper the Hawks again, as Doc Rivers only played just 48 games due to a herniated disk in his back. Despite the injuries, they went on a 7-game winning streak in December with a 13–6 record. However, in January they lost six consecutive games falling below .500, holding a 22–24 record at the All-Star break, and endangering their playoff chances. At midseason, the team traded Antoine Carr to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Kenny Smith. The Hawks would close out the season on a strong note winning ten of their final 15 games finishing sixth in the Central Division with a 41–41 record. However, they ended up one game short of the playoffs.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1988–89 Sacramento Kings season</span> NBA professional basketball team season

    The 1988-89 NBA season was the Kings' 40th season in the NBA and fourth in Sacramento. It was also the franchise's first season at the new ARCO Arena, after playing the previous three seasons at the original ARCO Arena, as well as the team's first season in the Pacific Division of the NBA's Western Conference. During the off-season, the Kings acquired Rodney McCray and Jim Petersen from the Houston Rockets, and acquired Randy Wittman from the Atlanta Hawks.

    The 2000–01 NBA season was the Rockets' 34th season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th season in the city of Houston. The Rockets had the ninth pick in the 2000 NBA draft, and selected Joel Przybilla from the University of Minnesota, but soon traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for rookie center Jason Collier. In an effort to shore up their front line, the Rockets signed free agent Maurice Taylor during the off-season.

    The 1988–89 NBA season was the Rockets' 22nd season in the NBA and 18th season in the city of Houston. Houston hosted the All-Star Game this season. During the off-season, the Rockets acquired Otis Thorpe from the Sacramento Kings, signed free agent Mike Woodson, and hired Don Chaney as their new head coach. At mid-season, the team signed free agent Walter Berry, who was previously released by the New Jersey Nets. The Rockets posted a six-game winning streak in December, and held a 28–18 record at the All-Star break. Despite a 7-game losing streak between February and March, the team finished second in the Midwest Division with a 45–37 record.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Alperen Şengün</span> Turkish basketball player (born 2002)

    Alperen Şengün is a Turkish professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also represents the senior Turkish national team. A center, Şengün is considered one of the best Turkish-born prospects in the NBA, having been the youngest player to win the Basketball Super League's Most Valuable Player Award in 2021 at the age of 18 years and 10 months. He was selected in the 16th pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jabari Smith Jr.</span> American basketball player (born 2003)

    Jabari Montsho Smith Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Kenny Smith". www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved on January 28, 2010.
    2. ↑ "Famous Stanners: Kenny Smith, Class of 1983" Archived May 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine . www.molloyhs.org. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
    3. 1 2 @TheJetOnTNT (November 16, 2012). "Born in brooklyn raised in queens!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    4. ↑ Biography for Kenny Smith at IMDb
    5. ↑ Weber, Bruce (March 14, 2013). "Jack Curran, a Mentor in Two Sports, Dies at 82". New York Times . Retrieved January 31, 2023.
    6. ↑ "Boys Alumni: Kenny Smith" (PDF). www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com. 1983. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
    7. ↑ Hunt, Donald (April 1, 2016). "Kenny Smith recognizes former Bartram High star Bobby Lewis". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
    8. 1 2 "College Basketball: Kenny Smith". www.sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
    9. ↑ "1983-84 UNC Tar Heels Roster and Stats". www.sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
    10. ↑ "Syracuse vs North Carolina, March 21, 1987". www.sports-reference.com'. March 21, 1987. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
    11. 1 2 3 "Carolina Basketball: 2015-16 Fact & Records Book" (PDF). www.goheels.com'. pp. 37–52. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
    12. ↑ Jackson, Tim W. (2014). Gone Pro: North Carolina: Tar Heel Stars Who Became Pros. Covington, Kentucky: Clerisy. ISBN   978-1578605453 . Retrieved January 31, 2023.
    13. ↑ "1986 World Championship for Men. July 20, 1986". www.fiba.com. July 20, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
    14. ↑ WARRIORS @ KINGS 106-134
    15. ↑ November 6, 1987, Sacramento, California, USA: Sacramento Kings Head Coach BILL RUSSELL, 43, court-side during a game. Hands say it all as the NBA legend guides his troops
    16. ↑ Kramers, Alex (February 24, 2017). "Bill Russell Leaves Lasting Impact on Kings". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
    17. ↑ Poindexter, Bill. "Sacramento Fans Have No Problem With Dumping Bill Russell". Los Angeles Times , December 24, 1989. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
    18. ↑ Brown, Clifton (February 11, 1990). "PRO BASKETBALL; Hodges Goes the Distance". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
    19. ↑ Heisler, Mark (February 11, 1990). "Wilkins Wins It with the Same Old Stuff: SLAM-DUNK Contest: Dominique Beats Kenny Smith, But No One Seems to Care Anymore. Hodges Wins Three-Point Shootout". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
    20. ↑ Mayo, Michael (February 12, 1990). "Dunk Champ Looked Better from a Distance". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
    21. ↑ "Kings Trade Smith and Williams to Atlanta". United Press International. February 13, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
    22. ↑ "Hawks' Carr to Kings". The New York Times. February 14, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
    23. ↑ "Hawks Deal for Guard Kenny Smith". Los Angeles Times. February 14, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
    24. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Obtain Smith". The New York Times. September 28, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
    25. ↑ "Rockets Trade Lucas, Get 2 Hawks". Los Angeles Times. September 28, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
    26. ↑ "Rockets, Hawks Work Deal". Deseret News. September 28, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
    27. ↑ "1990-91 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
    28. ↑ "Olajuwon Injured, In Hospital". The Washington Post. January 4, 1991. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
    29. ↑ Luna, Richard (January 4, 1991). "Olajuwon Suffers Broken Facial Bone". United Press International. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
    30. ↑ "Olajuwon Out for Month with Fracture Behind Eye". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 5, 1991. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
    31. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Olajuwon Returns". The New York Times. March 1, 1991. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
    32. ↑ "1990-91 Awards Voting". www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
    33. ↑ Cooper, Barry (May 3, 1991). "It's No Dream - Skiles Is Named Most Improved". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
    34. ↑ "1990–91 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
    35. ↑ Which Rockets title team was better?
    36. ↑ “No Rodman, no Grant? Oh we smacking them!" - Kenny Smith believes the Houston Rockets would have won the 1994 & 1995 Finals even if Michael Jordan was still on the Chicago Bulls
    37. ↑ "Seattle SuperSonics at Houston Rockets Box Score, May 20, 1993". www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
    38. ↑ "Smith Lifts Rockets Into Game 7 : NBA playoffs: Guard scores 30 points as Houston pulls away from Seattle in third quarter for a 103-90 victory". Los Angeles Times , May 21, 1993. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
    39. ↑ "1994–95 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
    40. ↑ MacKay, David (February 14, 2019). "Today in Rockets History: 1995, Houston Acquires Clyde Drexler for Title Run". USA Today. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
    41. ↑ "The 60 Greatest Playoff Moments: Honorable Mention". www.nba.com. Retrieved on January 28, 2010.
    42. ↑ "Houston Rockets at Orlando Magic Box Score, June 7, 1995". www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
    43. ↑ Howard, Johnette. "SAM I AM WITH TEAMMATES, FOES AND REFS, HOUSTON ROCKET POINT GUARD SAM CASSELL LIKES TO TALK THE TALK-- AND HE'S HAPPY TO BACK IT UP COME CRUNCH TIME. Sports Illustrated , November 13, 1995. SI Vault. Retrieved June 28, 0216.
    44. ↑ McGuire, Paul. "History in Hindsight: The Houston Rockets, The Seattle SuperSonics, and Hakeem Olajuwon's greatest foe". www.red94.net, July 28, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
    45. ↑ "Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets Box Score, May 2, 1996". www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
    46. ↑ Hansford, Corey. "Throwback Thursday: Magic Johnson Makes A Comeback In 1996". www.lakersnation.com, December 12, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
    47. ↑ "Pistons Get a Bargain in Smith". The New York Times. September 18, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
    48. ↑ Thompson, Jack (September 18, 1996). "Stockton Agrees on Deal; Pistons Land Kenny Smith". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
    49. ↑ "Pistons Release Kenny Smith". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 24, 1996. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
    50. ↑ "WITH PENNY OUT, ORLANDO TURNS TO KENNY SMITH". NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. December 18, 1996. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
    51. ↑ Diamos, Jason (October 29, 1997). "N.B.A. PREVIEW '97-'98; Kenny Smith, a Poor Fit with Nets, Is Cut". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
    52. ↑ "Nets Sign Sherman Douglas". Associated Press. October 31, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
    53. ↑ "Denver Nuggets Career Leaders". www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
    54. ↑ "Sacramento Kings Career Leaders". www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
    55. ↑ "Houston Rockets Season Leaders". www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
    56. ↑ "Houston Rockets Career Leaders". www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
    57. 1 2 "Kenny Smith: Inside the NBA Analyst" Archived August 18, 2017, at the Wayback Machine . www.nba.com . Retrieved on January 28, 2010.
    58. ↑ Cherner, Reid. "Chemistry, characters carry NBA show above pack". USA Today , April 8, 2007. Retrieved on January 29, 2010.
    59. ↑ Sopan Deb (May 23, 2019). "Kenny Smith Wasn't a Star. TNT's 'Inside the N.B.A.' Made Him One". The New York Times.
    60. ↑ "NBA All-Star Shooting Stars Winners". NBA.com. August 24, 2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018.
    61. ↑ Rapp, Timothy. "Kenny Smith Says His Rockets Team Would've Beaten '94 Bulls with Michael Jordan". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
    62. ↑ "Kenny Smith walks off 'NBA on TNT' set in solidarity with player strike". sports.yahoo.com. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
    63. ↑ Chavkin, Daniel. "TNT Announces 'Inside the NBA' Crew's Future Amid Charles Barkley Contract". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
    64. ↑ Hustle (2022) - IMDb , retrieved October 19, 2022
    65. ↑ "Dawn Reavis (@Sold_by_Dawn) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
    66. ↑ Minnis, Glenn. "Daddy's Little Girl: Kenny Smith and Daughter Kayla Brianna Look to Rock Music Industry". Vibe , February 7, 2012. Retrieved on March 5, 2015.
    67. ↑ "K.J. Smith - Men's Basketball". University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
    68. ↑ "UNC's K.J. Smith played college basketball at the highest level. Now, he's covering it as a national analyst".
    69. 1 2 "Awesome Basket Player Kenny Smith: Once Divorced, Now Happy With Wife Gwendolyn and Kids". LIVERAMPUP. October 26, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
    70. ↑ Ho, Rodney (April 3, 2015). "TBS's 'Meet the Smiths' gives NBA analyst Kenny Smith the spotlight". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
    71. ↑ 'Gwendolyn Osborne, a Barker beauty on the Price is Right, wed former NBA Star Kenny "the Jet" Smith.' www.prweb.com, September 8, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
    72. ↑ "Kenny Smith's Ex-Wife Garnishing His 'Inside the NBA' Paychecks to Pay Child and Spousal Support". The Blast. May 22, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.