Kenny Smith slammed for sexist All-Star commentary

After Ionescu scored 26 points shooting from the NBA three-point line - tying the highest score in any round in the NBA Three-Point Contest - TNT commentator Smith suggested that next time, she should shoot from the shorter, WNBA line.

While Smith seemed to be suggesting it was fairer for Ionescu to shoot from her normal line, many people took it as a sexist dismissal of Ionescu and female basketball players in general. Immediately Reggie Miller suggested Smith wanted Ionescu to be “playing with dolls” instead.

The internet was not pleased either. Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Brittani Donaldson shot back at Smith.

Jackie Powell, a beat writer who covers Ionescu’s New York Liberty, wrote that Smith “didn’t get the memo” that the challenge was supposed to fight, rather than perpetuate stereotypes about women’s basketball.

It was a rough night for Smith overall, who accidentally called Miller “Ernie” at one point. He also screwed up the name of dunk contest judge Darnell “Dr. Dunk” Hillman.

Smith seemed surprised about Jaime Jacquez Jr.’s dunking abilities and his Mexican heritage. At one point, Miller checked Smith for doubting that Tyrese Haliburton, attempting nearly eight three-pointers a game, could “shoot the ball with this frequency.”

Overall, it was a rough Saturday night for Smith. But for anyone dragging Kenny the Jet online, keep in mind that earlier in the night, his cohorts at “Inside The NBA” slammed him harder than any tweet could have.