New York Daily News: MANHATTAN, NY – Sekou Smith, an NBA reporter best-known for his work on NBA TV, died Tuesday after battling COVID-19. He was 48.

Smith started his journalism career at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss, where he also went to college at Jackson State. He moved to the Indianapolis Star and then the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before joining Turner Sports in 2009.

He was a reporter for NBA TV and NBA.com and also created and hosted the “Hang Time” podcast.

Fellow reporter Stephen A. Smith first mentioned his friend’s COVID-19 diagnosis Jan 19 on ESPN, and New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy, who recently worked for ESPN as well, opened his press conference that day wishing Smith well.

“Sekou Smith was the very best of us,” NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski wrote in a tweet. “Smart. Funny. Unflinching. Full of good. A lot of days and nights on the road with him – Bubble, Finals, Olympics, wherever.”

“Heavy heart today,” broadcaster Marc Jones wrote. “We lost a good brother to Covid. Sekou Smith of NBATV and NBA.com was a brilliant and insightful writer, a positive dude.”

Smith is survived by his wife, Heather, and children Gabriel, Rielly and Cameron.

  • Top Feature Photo: Sekou Smith died at 48 Facebook)