DETROIT, Mich. — Sekou Smith, former NBA writer and Grand Rapids native, has died.
The Detroit Pistons made the announcement on Twitter this evening.
The Pistons join the NBA community in mourning the passing of Sekou Smith. For nearly two decades, the Grand Rapids native provided insightful information to audiences across multiple platforms, and brought humor & personality to interviews with our team.
Prayers to his family. https://t.co/LNRPAnZd8B
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 27, 2021
“Prayers to his family,” the tweet reads.
ESPN's Mark Jones writes that Smith died of coronavirus.
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
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released this statement:
"The NBA mourns the passing of Sekou Smith, a beloved member of the NBA family. Sekou was one of the most affable and dedicated reporters in the NBA and a terrific friend to so many across the league. He covered the game for more than two decades, including the past 11 years with Turner Sports, where he showed his full range of skills as an engaging television analyst, podcast host and writer. Sekou's love of basketball was clear to everyone who knew him and it always shined through in his work. Our heartfelt condolences go to his wife, Heather, and their children, Gabriel, Rielly and Cameron."
Before working for Turner Sports and NBA.com, Smith spent 8 total years on the NBA beat, covering the Indiana Pacers with the Indianapolis Star and the Atlanta Hawks for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
