Kenny Smith, a long-standing personality of TNT, recently found himself in the crosshairs of viewers due to his commentary during All-Star Saturday Night.
Fans felt that Smith, who has been a fixture in NBA commentating for years, took the focus away from the thrilling on-court action with his comments.
The night saw an exciting cross-over three-point contest between the NBA’s best shooter, Stephen Curry, and the WNBA’s top gunner, Sabrina Ionescu.
The face-off, which Curry clinched in a close 29-26 victory, was a fan favorite.
STEPH RESPONDS WITH 29 TO WIN IT 👨🏽🍳 pic.twitter.com/odGaOfwkOA
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 18, 2024
However, Smith’s critique of Ionescu’s performance sparked controversy.
The NBA analyst suggested that Ionescu should be shooting from the WNBA three-point line if she wanted to beat Curry.
“She should have shot it from the women’s line,” said Smith. “That would have been a fair contest. I still support Sabrina. But she should have shot it from at the women shoot from.”
His comments, implying a gender-led inferiority, were quickly met with resistance, even from fellow commentator Reggie Miller, who countered Smith’s assertion, questioning why he was imposing boundaries on Ionescu.
“Why are you putting those boundaries on her? She wanted to shoot from there.”
Smith further defended his stance by comparing the basketball shootout to golf, where women and men use different tee boxes, stating it’s “for a reason”.
“She should have shot from the line. There is a women’s tee in golf and there is a men’s tee for a reason.”
Kenny Smith says Sabrina pic.twitter.com/sF8wQ1V8kT
— sportsvids99 (@sportsvids991) February 18, 2024
This analogy was already adding fuel when he unknowingly dropped another bombshell.
Miller accused Smith of wanting Ionescu to ‘play with dolls’, to which Smith strangely responded that “playing with dolls is good too” for his daughters Kayla and London.
“According to you, you want her to be playing with dolls,” said Miller.
“No, I want her to shoot from where you shoot from,” said Smith. And there is nothing wrong with playing with dolls Kayla and London. Y’all good with that too.”
Kenny Smith and Reggie Miller did their best to make the Stephen vs Sabrina showdown brutally awkward and ended it by arguing about playing with dolls for some reason. pic.twitter.com/ylysmUQ4y4
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 18, 2024
These peculiar comments sparked widespread disapproval from viewers.
Smith’s commentary during the Slam Dunk contest only added to the growing discontent among viewers.
He was scrutinized for repeatedly criticizing the judges, even wrongly addressing judge Darnell Hillman as Darnell Tillman.
“Gary Payton is a hater by nature, anyway…Dominique (Wilkins) still probably thinks he should dunk. I don’t know what Darnell Tillman is thinking about.”
Kenny Smith: Gary Payton is a hater by nature, anyway…Dominique still probably thinks he should dunk. I don't know what Darnell Tillman is thinking about.
Reggie Miller: HILLMAN, not Tillman.
Been that kind of night for the All-Star Saturday Night broadcast. pic.twitter.com/0yKNjhxe77
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 18, 2024
Broadcast glitches, like a poor cut-away during a dunk from Jaylen Brown, further agitated viewers, adding to the dissatisfaction with Smith’s commentary.
If you're going to broadcast the dunk contest, showing the dunks feels like it should be a priority. pic.twitter.com/YX4UCO9BLZ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 18, 2024
