NBA Community Mourns The Passing Of Sekou Smith

The NBA world took a hit today when it was announced that writer and analyst Sekou Smith had passed away. Smith had been battling COVID-19.

Sekou Smith worked for the Indianapolis Star from 2001-05. He then moved to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 2005-09. Since then Smith has been working with NBA TV. He was universally beloved by all of his colleagues, and many have flocked to social media to share their condolences after this terrible news.

Heavy heart today..We lost a good brother to Covid.
Sekou Smith of @NBATV and https://t.co/dyMHCgGy2q was a brilliant and insightful writer,a positive dude.
He’s gone home to be with the Lord. 🙏🏽
Philippians 4:4 pic.twitter.com/Yw5xvwZ51g

— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) January 26, 2021

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.

— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) January 27, 2021

Thank you for your brotherly friendship, humor, honesty and compassion. Glad we had a chance to tell each other we loved each other three weeks ago. You were a gift to this Earth as a friend, father and a man Sekou Smith. Rest In Peace to my brother. Prayers to your wife & family pic.twitter.com/mqjnZyEHNz

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) January 26, 2021

Sekou Smith was the very best of us. Smart. Funny. Unflinching. Full of good. A lot of days and nights on the road with him – Bubble, Finals, Olympics, wherever – and always this: Photos of his kids playing ball, or graduating, or leaving for college. Godspeed, my friend.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 27, 2021

Hard to process. An impeccable human being. Rest In Peace, Sekou Smith. pic.twitter.com/7MwOMyOAB3

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 26, 2021

I’ve known Sekou Smith since I was 20 years old. Never forget the day we met. We were both interns at the Plain Dealer in Cleveland and we met filling out our paperwork. We clicked right away and a great friendship was born. I’m glad he’s at peace, but this absolutely hurts.

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 27, 2021

Sekou Smith was one of the kindest souls you could ever meet. Always willing to share his time with any that asked. So sad. He’ll be sorely missed. Condolences. May he RIP 🙏🏽

— Jorge Sedano (@Sedano) January 26, 2021

The outpouring of love for Sekou Smith and support for his family continued from all corners of the NBA world.

We join the NBA family in mourning the heartbreaking loss of Sekou Smith, a fantastic writer and a great ambassador of our game. We extend our deepest condolences to the Smith family.

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 26, 2021

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.

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) January 27, 2021

Rest In Peace & Power, Sekou Smith. Met him when he was covering the Pacers early in his career and enjoyed watching his rise. Always found him to be a great, honorable, loyal & funny brother. Prayers up for his family 🙏🏼

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) January 26, 2021

Joining chorus of colleagues stunned and deeply saddened by the passing of Sekou Smith. Beyond his distinguished work, including his stint with Turner Sports, Smith was one of the kindest, most generous people on the NBA beat. And what a laugh. RIP, Sekou. You’ll be missed dearly

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 26, 2021

May we all be as kind, as talented, as hardworking, as in love with the game and the craft as much as Sekou Smith.

— Mirin Fader (@MirinFader) January 26, 2021

My good friend and former @AJC colleague Sekou Smith passed today. Pray for his lovely wife and young adult children. Our Smyrna Spartans/Seahawks football is mourning, too. pic.twitter.com/KJfEavLsD3

— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) January 26, 2021

Sekou Smith was always cheerful, always pleasant, loved the game and loved the fact that he could tell stories about this game.

I was humbled and honored to call him a friend.

May he rest in peace, and may God bless his family, friends and colleagues in these awful days.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) January 26, 2021

I can’t add anything more than the enormous outpouring of grief and love for Sekou Smith all over social media. He was a friend to so many of us. I count myself blessed to be part of that group. My heart is broken at this news. Rest in Peace.

— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) January 26, 2021

The outpouring of supports from colleagues and anybody who works around the NBA shows just what a stand-up guy Sekou Smith was. The hits just keep coming during this unprecedented time. Rest in peace Sekou Smith, and thank you for your impact on the game of basketball.

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