Many professional athletes often struggle with the dilemma of what to do with their lives when they retire. Some go to sports casting, others to coaching, with varying degrees of success. If there’s one athlete who excels in retirement, it’s Kenny Smith – a former basketball player who spent ten years in the NBA. Nicknamed The Jet, he won multiple trophies including two NBA championships. Since retiring, Smith has built an award-winning career as a television personality. Want to know more about The Jet? Read all the facts here.
Kenny Smith – Bio
The sports guru was born on March 8, 1965 in Queens, New York. He comes from a family of four; his father’s name is Kenny Smith Sr. while his mother’s name is Annie Mae. The basketball player also has a brother named Vincent. Smith grew up in LeFark City, Queens and attended Archbishop Molloy High School. As a high school student, he had impressive success on the basketball court and was named a McDonald’s All-American. Smith’s high school successes earned him several scholarship offers and he decided to attend the University of North Carolina. At UNC, Smith continued his impressive form, averaging 12.9 points and 6.0 assists per game. He led his school to the Atlantic Coast Conference title and was voted National Player of the Year in his senior year.
Kenny Smith joined the NBA in 1987 and was seeded sixth overall by the Sacramento Kings. In his freshman season, he averaged 13.8 points and 7.1 assists per game and earned first-team NBA All-Rookie honors. Smith spent a total of 10 years in the league playing for teams such as the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons. The point guard finished his career with 9,397 points, 1,454 rebounds and 4,073 assists (1.2PPG, 2.0RPG and 5.5APG). He also won the NBA championship twice with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995. Smith also found success with the US national team, winning gold at the 1986 FIBA World Championships in Spain.
wife and divorce
Kenny Smith was married to Gwendolyn OsbourneEnglish model/actress who has appeared in a number of films and TV shows. However, she is most popular for her time as a model on the game show The Price is Right. Smith first met Osbourne at a charity event in 2004. They later went on to have a romantic relationship and tied the knot two years later, in 2006. The couple dated for 12 years and broke up in October 2018. Osbourne was the one who filed for the divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. She also asked for physical and legal custody of her children, as well as support. The couple’s divorce proceedings have so far been amicable. However, in May 2019, Osbourne announced that
daughter and son
Kenny Smith has five children in total, including a stepdaughter. His first marriage to a woman named Dawn Reavis produced daughter Kayla and son KJ. His second marriage to actress/model Gwendolyn Osbourne produced daughter London and son Malloy. The retired basketball player also has a stepdaughter named Monique, who was provided by his second wife. KJ followed in his father’s footsteps as he played college basketball. Kayla, on the other hand, has gone in a completely different direction. She is a fast rising R’n’B singer and has a record deal with Interscope. Her musical style reflects that of legendary singers like Aaliyah, Brandy and Monica and she has a single titled If You Love Me. Kayla has also performed at various public events including the NBA All-Star Weekend. The talented young lady is also a college graduate with a degree from UCLA.
Wealth (income and earnings)
Kenny Smith has a net worth of $15 million. His net worth stems from the juicy deals and endorsements he bagged during his playing days. Another real source of income for the retired basketball player is his television career. Smith is an analyst on the popular TNT program. In the NBA . The post-game show features expert analysis of NBA matches and has become quite popular with basketball fans. Smith joined the show back in 1997 and reportedly makes a salary of $4 million a year.
Height
The average basketball player prides himself on having imposing height and build, and Kenny Smith is no different. He is 1.91 m tall and weighs 77 kg. Although the New York native has been retired for more than two decades, he still has a tall and lean physique. This is unlike other athletes who let themselves go after their playing days are up.
