NBA reporter Sekou Smith dies after COVID battle at age 48
Sekou Smith, an NBA reporter best-known for his work on NBA TV, died Tuesday after battling COVID-19. He was 48.
Smith started his journalism career at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., where he also went to college at Jackson State. He moved to the Indianapolis Star and then the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before joining Turner Sports in 2009.
He was a reporter for NBA TV and NBA.com and also created and hosted the “Hang Time” podcast.
The Turner Sports family mourns the loss of our very own, Sekou Smith.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/97mu4bylfA— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 27, 2021
Fellow reporter Stephen A. Smith first mentioned his friend’s COVID-19 diagnosis Jan. 19 on ESPN, and New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy, who recently worked for ESPN as well, opened his press conference that day wishing Smith well.
“Sekou Smith was the very best of us,” NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski wrote in a tweet. “Smart. Funny. Unflinching. Full of good. A lot of days and nights on the road with him – Bubble, Finals, Olympics, wherever.”
“Heavy heart today,” broadcaster Marc Jones wrote. “We lost a good brother to Covid. Sekou Smith of NBATV and NBA.com was a brilliant and insightful writer, a positive dude.”
Smith is survived by his wife, Heather, and children Gabriel, Rielly and Cameron.
