Sekou Smith: NBA journalist and analyst dies of Covid-19

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Smith worked at NBA TV and wrote on NBA.com since 2009.

“We are all heartbroken by Sekou’s tragic transfer,” Turner Sports, which broadcasts and operates the NBA television ad NBA.com, said in a statement. “His commitment to journalism and the basketball community was immense and we will miss his warm and attractive personality.”

Smith covered the NBA for more than twenty years, including 11 years with Turner Sports, which, like CNN, is owned by WarnerMedia.

“The NBA mourns the passing of Sekou Smith, a beloved member of the NBA family. Sekou was one of the NBA’s kindest and most dedicated reporters and a fantastic friend to so many in the entire league,” said the commissioner of the NBA. NBA, Adam Silver, on statement.

“Sekou’s love of basketball was clear to everyone who knew him and he always shone in his work. Our sincerest condolences go to his wife, Heather, and his children, Gabriel, Rielly and Cameron.” said Silver.

Smith began his journalism career as a sports reporter at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1994, according to his LinkedIn profile. He then worked for four years each at The Indianapolis Star and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before joining Turner Sports.

Beloved in the basketball community, Smith’s death, on the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s passing just a year ago, received numerous tributes from players and coaches.

Stan Van Gundy, coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, knew Smith from his time at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He called him a “great man” in message posted on Twitter.

“Although I’ve known him since I was at the AJC, but I was lucky enough to work with him on NBA TV,” Van Gundy wrote. “I knew him well enough to know 3 things: I was lucky enough to spend time with him, I wanted to get to know him better and he was a good man.”

Dwyane Wade, a retired Miami Heat legend, echoed those sentiments.

“I’ve never had anything but positive interactions and conversations with Sekou Smith,” He said. “Our prayers are addressed to the Smith family. We lost a good one. Rest in heaven.”

And in Smith’s hometown, Atlanta, the Hawks shared a few words about his transfer, as Smith covered the team for five years.

“The Hawks organization is heartbroken by the passage of Sekou Smith. The Hawks’ screenwriter for the 05-09 AJC, Sekou provided our fans with honest and fair coverage, sharing an incredible vision of the team as it consolidated. as one of the top NBA personalities, “the said the team.

Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce said Tuesday in a post-match interview that it had been a tough day, both with Bryant’s birthday and the news about Smith, who called him “a person as authentic as there is.” has to the industry ”. “

Smith is survived by his wife Heather and their three children Gabriel, Reilly and Cameron.

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