Kenny Smith is a former NBA player and a current sports commentator who is known for his witty and insightful analysis on Inside the NBA. He is also known for his nickname “The Jet”, which he earned for his speed and agility on the court. But what is wrong with Kenny Smith’s legs? Why does he run in a peculiar way and why are his knees the subject of jokes and mockery?
The Mystery of Kenny Smith’s Knees
Kenny Smith has never publicly stated what the issue is with his knees, but plenty of people have speculated. Some people think he has bad tendinitis, while others believe he was born that way and is just knock-kneed. Some, however, say it’s simply the effects of wear and tear playing in college and the NBA. Because of this he may have had to have surgery.
According to HITC, one person wrote: “Many ex-players have lifelong knee problems not only from playing a sport for so long at a high-level year in and year out but from the fact that they are taller and naturally taller people put more stress on their knees to stabilise a larger structure.”
Another person added: “Kenny Smith has already had one knee replacement surgery and has some sort of arthritis. As hinted before, he may always been ever-so-slightly knock-kneed. My guess is that his knees are losing the ligaments between the bones they are reacting by pushing further inward.”
The Jokes and Mockery on Inside the NBA
Kenny Smith’s knees have been mocked several times on Inside the NBA. Smith has made a competition out of running to the halftime report screen first over the years, with Shaq and Charles often trying to beat him to it. During this segment, Kenny’s knee issues can be seen as he runs a certain way. Victor Oladipo even appeared as a guest on the show once and mocked Smith over the way he runs.
Furthermore, several years ago the crew – including Chris Webber – had a race to see who was the quickest. The race spawned the infamous ‘run through the tape’ moment, as Smith slowed down towards the end of the race and was pipped by Webber. Smith’s running style and knees can be seen fairly visibly during this footage.
According to Sports World Zone, Kenny Smith’s knees have been the butt of many jokes on Inside the NBA. The show has turned from being just a show about basketball into its own phenomena. YouTube is littered with clips and outtakes that have thousands if not millions of views.
The Legacy of Kenny Smith
Despite his knee problems, Kenny Smith has had a successful career as both a player and a broadcaster. He is a two-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets and has won an Emmy for his broadcasting work on TNT. He was the 6th overall pick in the 1987 draft and stands at 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m).
He also runs a summer basketball camp for kids in North Carolina, which he named after his nickname “The Jet”. He came up with the idea for the Jet Academy when his camp was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kenny Smith is an inspiration for many young basketball players and fans who admire his skills, knowledge, and personality. He may have some issues with his legs, but he does not let that stop him from being one of the best in his field.
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