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Kenny Smith slammed for sexist All-Star commentary
The Steph Curry-Sabrina Ionescu showdown was a great moment for NBA-WNBA unity. Until Kenny Smith kept talking.
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
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.
Sabrina hitting the exact score that Dame won with, losing to Steph, and the immediate commentary being “welp, she should’ve shot from the women’s line ♂️” pretty much sums up our experience if ya’ll are wondering
— Brittni Donaldson (@brittni__d) February 18, 2024
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.
Sabrina Ionescu and Stephen Curry made it abundantly clear prior to this shootout that their goal was to dismantle misconceptions and stereotypes about women's basketball.
— Jackie Powell (she/her) (@ClassicJpow) February 18, 2024
Clearly Kenny Smith either didn't get the memo or didn't pay attention to the press prior to the shootout. https://t.co/a7JEL3nuHK
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.
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.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 18, 2024
Reggie Miller: HILLMAN, not Tillman.
Been that kind of night for the All-Star Saturday Night broadcast. pic.twitter.com/0yKNjhxe77
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.”
Kenny Smith: “I didn’t know, Reg, that [Haliburton] could shoot the ball with this frequency.”
— Hardwood Junkies (@hardwoodjunkies) February 18, 2024
Reggie Miller: “Don’t you watch games?”
Kenny: “No, this year. As he’s doing this year.”
Reggie: “Like, what are y’all doing in the studio?” pic.twitter.com/kQnKrnconk
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.
Kenny Smith: “I got robbed by Dominique Wilkins!”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 17, 2024
Charles Barkley: “Please stop. We’re still trying to figure out why you were in the Dunk Contest.”
(via @NBAonTNT)pic.twitter.com/7krsl669bQ
More must-reads:
- Watch: Steph Curry out-shoots Sabrina Ionescu in competitive three-point contest
- Best and worst of All-Star Saturday: Curry-Ionescu shootout sizzles, dunk contest fizzles
- The 'Most career 20-assist games' quiz
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