Kenny Smith

Kenneth "Kenny" Smith (born March 8, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player turned sports commentator, known for his ten‑year NBA career and his long‑running presence on Inside the NBA. Standing 6 ft 3 in, the point guard earned the nickname "the Jet" for his quickness and play‑making ability, and he helped the Houston Rockets capture back‑to‑back championships in 1994 and 1995, setting an NBA Finals record with seven three‑pointers in Game 1 of the 1995 series. Before turning pro, Smith dazzled at Archbishop Molloy High School, was a McDonald’s All‑American in 1983, and starred at the University of North Carolina where he became a consensus first‑team All‑American and led the Tar Heels to multiple Elite Eight appearances. Drafted sixth overall by the Sacramento Kings in 1987, he earned NBA All‑Rookie First Team honors, posted career averages of 12.8 points, 5.5 assists and a .399 three‑point percentage, and later contributed key scoring and leadership to the Rockets alongside Hakeem Olajuwon. After brief stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets, Smith retired in 1997 and transitioned to broadcasting, joining Turner Sports in 1998. He has become a household name as a studio analyst alongside Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, winning multiple Sports Emmy Awards and serving as an analyst for CBS/Turner’s NCAA tournament coverage. Smith’s media work extends to occasional acting roles, such as his appearance as sports agent Leon Rich in the 2022 film Hustle, and he remains active in charitable basketball camps and community initiatives. His personal life includes two marriages—first to an unnamed spouse with whom he has two children, Kayla and K.J., and later to English model Gwendolyn Osborne, with whom he shares two additional children and a stepdaughter.