Kenny Smith
A lightning-quick point guard who won two NBA titles with Houston before becoming the witty, insightful voice of the game for a new generation on TNT.
Born 1965 (age 61)·American basketball player and sports commentator·Birthday: March 8·Generation X
Biography
Kenny "The Jet" Smith’s career is a tale of two distinct acts, both performed with flair. Drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 1987, his blistering speed and savvy playmaking made him a respected floor general for six teams over a decade. His defining moments came with the Houston Rockets, where his chemistry with Hakeem Olajuwon and clutch shooting were instrumental in securing back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. Upon retirement, Smith didn't fade from the game; he reinvented it. He joined Turner Sports' "Inside the NBA" studio show, where his sharp analysis, honed from his playing days, and his easy chemistry with Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson created must-see television. Smith became the thoughtful bridge between the court and the couch, able to break down complex plays with a former pro's insight and a broadcaster's clarity, ensuring his impact on basketball culture extended far beyond his playing statistics.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kenny was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kenny Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Kenny's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won consecutive NBA championships with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995.
- Set an NBA Finals record (since broken) by making seven three-pointers without a miss in Game 1 of the 1995 Finals.
- Has been a core analyst on TNT's Emmy Award-winning "Inside the NBA" studio show for over two decades.
- Holds the University of North Carolina record for career assists, a record he set playing under Dean Smith.
Did You Know?
He earned his "Jet" nickname from a sportswriter due to his exceptional speed on the court.
Smith won the NBA Three-Point Contest in 1990 while playing for the Atlanta Hawks.
He is a successful real estate investor and developer outside of broadcasting.
His daughter, Kiley, played volleyball at the University of Southern California.
“"You don't get style points for winning. A win is a win."”
