Kenny Smith is a former NBA superstar, he was born on the 8th of March 1965 in Queens, New York City. Growing up, Smith was raised in LeFrak City, he was a student of Archbishop Molloy Highschool where he was coached by Jack Curran. He graduated from the University of North Carolina where he bagged a BA in Industrial Relations in 1987. While he was a student at the university, he was also coached by the renowned Dean Smith, and he was described as a ‘jet’ because of his swiftness and skills.
From 1987 to 1997, Kenny Smith played for NBA as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, and Orlando Magic. While he was a student at the university, he was a two-time NBA champion when he played for Houston Rockets. The NBA maverick Kenny Smith has an African-American descent.
Career
Kenny Smith played alongside the legendary Michael Jordan as a greenhorn in the North Carolina team during the pre-season. He finished the season with a record of about 28-3. Smith had an average game point of about 9.1 and 5.0 assists in each game. In 1985, he led North Carolina to the Elite Eight, although they lost to Villanova Wildcats. In the year 1987, he was named a Consensus All-American (1st team) as a senior, with an average game point of 16.9, 6.1 assist in each game. He assisted North Carolina to go back to the Elite Eight.
Smith led the Tar Heels with 25 in a game that had eleven future NBA players. They were eventually defeated by Syracuse University, 79-75. He was fortunate to be selected to represent the United States of America during the 1986 FIBA World Championship. On the team were players such as Muggsy Bogues, Steve Kerr, and David Robinson. Smith was able to score 23 points which eventually led the USA team to an 87-85 win. They won a gold medal over the Soviet Union team that featured Arvydas Sabonis.
More On Smith
Kenny Smith got appointed as a 6’3 170 Ib points guard by the Sacramento Kings with the sixth pick of the 1987 NBA draft. He was appointed in his first year to the NBA-All Rookie Team after averaging 13.8 points and 7.1 assists in each game for the Kings. The comely Smith started his NBA profession playing for Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who was the King’s head coach until he was fired 58 games into the 87-88 season. Smith was eventually sold to Atlanta Hawks halfway through the 1989-1990 season, and for the first time in his career, he was made a reserved player. He averaged 7.7 points in each game, while only starting five of thirty games he played for the Hawks.
Net Worth
Smith is stupendously rich because he has been able to harness a lot of money from his basketball career and as a television analyst. Due to his astounding career as a professional player and analyst, the NBA maestro has an estimated net worth of about $15 million. He receives monthly income as an analyst and has different financial resources to support his net worth.
Wife, Daughter, Son, Family
Smith is happily married to the seraphic Dawn Reavis, and they both had two children before they dissolved their several years of marriage. The name of their children is daughter Kayla, an R&B singer, and son K.J, a basketball player at North Carolina University; his father’s alma mater. Some years after Smith divorced Reavis, he came in contact with Gwendolyn Osborne during the 2004 charity event. They later tied the nuptial knot on the 8th of September 2006.
The couple has kids together; son Maloy and daughter London. Smith happens to be the stepfather to Monique, Gwendolyn Osborne’s daughter from a previous marriage. Osborne used to be a model.
Amazing Facts About Kenny Smith
Smith was nicknamed “The Jet”
He graduated from the same high school where the likes of Kevin Joyce, Brian Winters, Kenny Anderson, actor Caruso, former NYC police commissioner Raymond Kelly, and Andrew Cuomo graduated from.
In the year 1987, he was named the national player of the year.
He was elected to the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Houston in 1991.
In the year 1987, Smith was drafted sixth overall by the Sacramento King.
He was lucky to play for the Houston Rockets for their 1994 and 1995 titles.
On September 11, 2005, Smith alongside other NBA stars came to the rescue of the victims of Hurricane Katrina by organizing a relief game that will benefit them.
He got married to model Gwendolyn Osborne in 2006.
Height and Weight
Kenny Smith has a good height that qualifies him as a basketball player. He stands tall at about 6 ft 3 inches and he weighs 77kg.
