Sekou Smith Dies Of Covid-19: Longtime NBA TV Reporter Was 48

Sekou Smith, who covered pro basketball for more than 20 including the past decade-plus at NBA TV, died today of Covid-19. He was 48.

Sekou was a popular presence on the Turner Sports-managed NBA TV, serving as a television analyst and writer. He also hosted the podcast NBA Hang Time, which has run three times a week and broke down the latest news and storylines from the league with guests from around the NBA world.

More from Deadline

• Showbiz & Media Figures We've Lost In 2021 - Photo Gallery

• WarnerMedia Accused Of "Cruelty" & Discrimination By Casey Stern After Axed Sports Anchor's Battle To Rescue Abused Children

• NCAA Looks To Hold Men's Basketball Tournament In A Single City, Possibly Indianapolis, In Pandemic Precaution

“The NBA mourns the passing of Sekou Smith, a beloved member of the NBA family,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement today. “Sekou was one of the most affable and dedicated reporters in the NBA and a terrific friend to so many across the league. … Sekou’s love of basketball was clear to everyone who knew him and it always shined through in his work.”

Sekou is survived by his wife, Heather, and their children, Gabriel, Reilly and Cameron.

Best of Deadline

• U.S. Covid-19 Update: More Americans Have Now Died Of Covid-19 Than Died In All Of WWII

• Coronavirus: Movies That Have Halted Or Delayed Production Amid Outbreak

• Hong Kong Filmart Postponed Due To Coronavirus Fears; Event Moves Two Weeks Before Toronto

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.