Beloved NBA reporter and analyst Sekou Smith dies at 48

Unit 1 Hoop Source was the first to report the news. NBA TV later confirmed his death. He was 48 years old.

Smith worked for the Clarion-Ledger and wrote for the Indianapolis Star and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering the Indiana Pacers and the Atlanta Hawks after graduating from Jackson State University in 1997. He joined Turner Sports in 2009, where he worked as a reporter and an analyst for NBA.com and NBA TV.

He was a mainstay on NBA TV’s studio show “Game Time” and “The Beat.” He was also the host and creator of NBA.com’s “Hang Time” podcast and blog. His last podcast appearance was on Jan. 11.

He is survived by his wife, Heather, and children, Gabriel, Rielly and Cameron.

Tributes pour in upon news of Smith’s death

Beloved in the NBA and sports media community, Smith was remembered fondly upon the news of his death.

Sekou Smith was one of the first NABJ-ers to take me under his wing and make me feel like I belonged. He pushed to bring the best out of young reporters, was a fierce advocate of diversity in journalism — and did it with a smile on his face. A pro. Our friend. He is missed.

Sekou Smith was kind and welcoming for no reason at all, the type of person who made you happier just to be around. My thoughts are with his family on this heartbreaking day. It’s just so hard to process that he is gone. It was an honor to have known him.
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