Van Gundy said he learned the news shortly before practice began. "It just hit hard," said Van Gundy, who worked with Smith at Turner Sports before taking the Pelicans job prior to this season. "I just want to express our organization's condolences to Sekou's family." Sekou has been a part of the NBA family for a long time. "I know I speak for our entire organization, just crushing news today. "I just heard the news about Sekou Smith, and I am just devastated," Kerr said. Our heartfelt condolences go to his wife, Heather, and their children, Gabriel, Rielly and Cameron."īoth Kerr and Van Gundy spent time working with Smith at Turner Sports, and they took time to recognize his death after their respective teams practiced Tuesday. Sekou's love of basketball was clear to everyone who knew him and it always shined through in his work. Podcaster dies full#He covered the game for more than two decades, including the past 11 years with Turner Sports, where he showed his full range of skills as an engaging television analyst, podcast host and writer. "Sekou was one of the most affable and dedicated reporters in the NBA and a terrific friend to so many across the league. "The NBA mourns the passing of Sekou Smith, a beloved member of the NBA family," Silver said in a statement. In addition to his colleagues across the journalism industry, the tributes came from NBA commissioner Adam Silver, as well as Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy. Those virtues, and many others, were reinforced in the outpouring of messages on social media following the news of his death. Smith was universally beloved within the basketball world, both for the work he produced in his nearly two decades covering the sport and, more importantly, for being a kind and decent person, one with an ever-present smile and a wonderful laugh. Our deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones." "He was beloved by his Turner Sports and NBA friends and colleagues. His commitment to journalism and the basketball community was immense and we will miss his warm, engaging personality," Turner Sports said in a statement. "We are all heartbroken over Sekou's tragic passing. Smith is survived by his wife, Heather, and their three children, Gabriel, Rielly and Cameron. He went on to become a fixture in the NBA universe - first as a beat writer covering the Indiana Pacers for the Indianapolis Star and the Atlanta Hawks for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, before joining Turner Sports in 2009.įor more than a decade, Smith starred across all platforms for Turner, serving as an analyst for NBA TV, a writer for NBA.com and a host of the Hang Time Podcast. He was 48.Ī native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Smith went to college at Jackson State in Mississippi, before starting his career at the Clarion-Ledger in Jackson. Sekou Smith, a longtime NBA reporter and television analyst, died Tuesday after a battle with COVID-19.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |