How Good Was Kenny "The Jet" Smith Actually?
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- Опубліковано 19 вер 2022
- Kenny Smith is famous for being an instigator on Inside the NBA and helping Hakeem to win two championships with the Rockets. He was never a star like Barkley or Shaq, but Kenny did have a productive NBA career. So how good was he actually?
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Who's career should we make a video on next?
George mikan
Karl Malone
David Robinson
Moses Malone
Jerry West
“Kenny bring me some water” - Hakeem Olajuwon
“Those cups of water were the reason we lost”
-Patrick Ewing (probably)
"Can I get a hot dog?" - Bill Clinton
May be one of my favorite all time chuck lines lol. Dude was good though. Wish more knew or realized it
Barkley a sore loser, cant carry the sixers, blew a 2-0 and 3-1 lead on back to back years against Kenny's rockets then Join a superteam just to knocked out by stockton lol. And his fans praising for making the finals once, really once??? 😭🤣
@@ND-OPS he made it to the finals once because he couldn't carry an NBA team to a Finals win vs Jordan like everyone else to ever play.
Kenny: “Hakeem Olajuwon used to say this to me all the time-“
Charles Barkley: “Kenny can you get me some water?”
😆
First thing that popped in my head 😂
Barkley a sore loser, cant carry the sixers, blew a 2-0 and 3-1 lead on back to back years against Kenny's rockets then Join a superteam just to knocked out by stockton lol. And his fans praising for making the finals once, really once??? 😭🤣
@@ND-OPS Barkley did have his talent stripped away by the monstars
@@jaimeescarcegajr7798 truth hurts, barkley is a sore loser his entire career who spit on children and got arrested for throwing a man in a window. 🤣
honestly didn’t know kenny balled like that, anyone averaging 17 and 7 in multiple seasons is a solid role player for any era
Solid starting PG in any era
Jrue Holidayish
Kenny could've been in All-star when he was in SacTown. He was Bill Russell's guy too. But they fired Bill and got Kenny outta there.
@@elvincebernardo6339 Fred Vanvleet type player
Role player? Dude, he was the #2 on a back to back championship team
This video made me realize that Kenny has something on Barkley and Shaq. He was an essential part to two Houston championship runs, particularly the games that knocked Barkley and The Suns out of the playoffs in 94' and finished off Shaq and The Magic in the 95' Finals
Knocked the Suns out in '94 AND '95. 😞
well that was because of the man called the dream to be honest anyone could of filled kenny's spot and the outcome would of been the same
Yea but that's the reason why both of them clown on him about the Dream. They both have MAD respect for the Hakeem Olajouwan and Shaq in particular since he was matched up with him 1v1 early in his career remembers that series solely because of Dream. Even though the actual story is that Kenny was an essential part of those teams, to Shaq and Chuck the Dream was all that mattered. From their perspective as players they're not wrong, but from the big picture perspective Kenny deserves his due respect for both of those rings.
@@ktvindicare by fans yes, but from the stature of shaq and charles kenny does not deserve anything.
This video made you realize that?? Not the banter between them the whole time lol
Starting PG on a team that won Back to Back championships... that's how good he was
Starting pg on back to back championship team... mario chalmers 😂 (i cant even spelled hin right)
@@muhammadihsan4896 Chalmers D on Westbrick was key especially on the perimeter he shot 13% from 3 on 22 attempts, Chalmers played solid hard minutes and didnt cost us any games
@@joejoiner8582 Westbrook would put up those same number without a defender in front of him
@@richterbelmont2 Not in his prime
@@muhammadihsan4896 so u the kind of people to say somebody isnt good if they're not All-Stars? Mario Chalmers played 7 seasons for Heat and played in 4 NBA finals.. put up 10 ppg in both of 2 title winning finals series.. You think Miami wouldnt have traded him in 2011 or 2012 or 2013 if they thought that "damn, we have a great team but we just cant win if Mario is on the team"...
Kenny Smith shot 7 3-pointers in game 1 of the 1995 Finals, which was an NBA record at the time. The 90s Rockets were arguably the first team to heavily establish the 3-point shot with Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell, Sam Cassell, Clyde Drexler, Mario Elie, and Robert Horry.
The Rockets were the Warriors before the Warriors.
wrong the 90s Warriors were the ones who started ir
@@rickyrichreacts9667 you mean Run TMC
They were reminiscent of the 2009 Magic with D12
@@rickyrichreacts9667 yea but they didn't win....probably due to the weak center spot
I will never accept Kenny Smith slander of any kind. As a Rockets fan growing up watching him play, he was criminally underrated. In today's wide open NBA he would've been absolutely deadly in his prime. Him pump faking Hardaway into oblivion and burying that 3 pointer in game 1 of the NBA Finals is a moment I will never forget.
Kenny 🗑
@Gerald Charles your moms 🗑
@@sixers0126 What?
@@pointblank8216 your opinion
@@sixers0126 My opinion what? learn to form a full sentence
‘His small stature of only 6ft2.’ Only in basketball 😂
I guess you missed the 165 lbs part. Thats a skinny dude.
@@josephrafferty6763 Like Iverson
@@josephrafferty6763 Just because he wasn't a fatass doesn't mean he was super skinny lmao, he's fit
@@userbread1545 165 at 6'2 is skinny
Right
Kenny was something every team would kill for: consistent reliability.
DAMN !! Didn't know Kenny had such a great career. Game tying 3 in a finals game, Record for most 3s in a finals game that stood for 15 years, 17th in MVP voting ahead of Hakeem, these are some insane achievements that any NBA player would love to add in their resume. Don't think he gets enough credit for his contribution in a championship team because now he shares a desk with two of the best players to ever play the game and he wasn't as great as them, but he was definitely more than a role player and a legend in his own right.
Right? He gets clowned but I would probably kill 5 different people to have an NBA career like he did 😂
Wayyyyy more than a role player. Looks like a bunch of spectators just like to clown on dude just because.
Well said bro Kenny was legit
@@chiarosuburekeni9325😂
That mvp stat is crazy😂
With efficiency ratings that high on limited minutes, Kenny would have been considered a better player in this era now than his own era where big men dominated.
He was efficient in large part because of the attention Hakeem garnered.
@@RandomPlaceHolderName yeah but you can make the same argument for other great guard/big man duos, would Nash or Amare been as effective without each other? Would Stockton or Malone have put up absurd numbers without each other? I'm not dismissing anyone's skills and im sure they'd have been HOF all star caliber regardless of who their partner were but by definition a strong inside outside game hinges on having two very good players and their chemistry with each other, you can't tell me Hakeem would have won those championships without Kenny that alone gives him a ton of extra value
@@emanuelmartinez7267 Nash won an MVP without Amare. He shot 50/40/90 that year.
Part of Stockton's eFG is no doubt related to Malone but you could drop Stockton's eFG by 100 and his APG by 3, he still ends up top 5 in assists all time and makes into the hall with that elite defense.
Meanwhile Kenny's eFG depended on the fastbreak and open 3s. His movement without the ball wasn't good for a 3pt guy and his defense was average at best even before his knees started buckling.
And HOU could easily have won with Cassell, no doubt there.
@@RandomPlaceHolderName Just team him with another star that demands attention and you have a sniper who either forces them to never sag, freeing up his star or having him work off the ball so that big can pass out of double teams.
Most NBA fans have no idea that Kenny Smith is a really good player as he one of the greatest role players in NBA history just because those fans only remember him as an analyst for TNT's Inside the NBA.
His team beat both Barkley and Shaq in his 2 championship years, he should bring that up every show but doesn't.
@@bitcoinethereum9702 All the more reason to give him respect.
Personally I think he was better than a role player. Hakeem and rightfully so don't get me wrong got ALL the credit.
he hyped up his own career a lot tho lmao like more than he needs to
Kenny is good but not as good as he think he is
he's not a bonafide star, but prime kenny smith was kinda ahead of his time and would fit in today's era... has hops, can play point, and can shoot threes
He was ahead of his time based on what? like a lot of y'all be throwing that word around out there ahead of his time. What was so great about Kenny Smith I mean he was a good player but you talking about he was ahead of his time by doing what?
@@pp3k3jamail Young Kenny was extremely quick and athletic. Alongside with his jumpshot he’ll be a great guard in this current era.
@@MarketaDoesCxrn Yao Ming I know who Kenny Smith is bruh I'm just asking this dude a question he said Kenny Smith was ahead of his time what does that even mean
@@pp3k3jamail ahead of his time... so his playstyle was more aligned to today's standards then when he played.
@@arjunlagoon2015 Kenny Smith wasn't the only guard who was good at shooting threes during that time you had John paxson Mark Price and many others.
I had no idea he was a good player after his career. I glad he continues his basketball knowledge on TNT.
How was he a good player after his career? LMAO😭
A good player? He was one of the best point guard from NYC. He was a role player in the NBA, not everybody can say that.
Have you seen his takes ?
Let's say he was marginally a starter at his position. From the 30 starter pgs in the league, let's say he was in the 25-30th rank.
@@danieldbdb The average starting point guard puts up 11.8ppg together with 4.2 assist and a 44% fg this season. Kenny did 13.3ppg 5.5 assist and a 50% fg in his day and age. He was definitely not amongst the top 25-30 starting points guards. He was top 15 fs.
Finally, someone giving proper respect to Kenny "The Jet" Smith. Kenny is so much maligned by these millennials on social media who have no idea about his stature as a basketball player and he outshines everyone on that TNT panel with his tactical analysis.
That’s his own fault for how he lies trying to pump himself up on Inside the NBA.
Kenny was a great player way before he got to Houston one of the best Guards to ever come out of New York City play Ground Legend& Great Tar Heel one of the few Freshman ever to start for a Dean Smith.
Bruh he gets maligned by his own colleagues on Inside the NBA, don’t blame the kiddos lol
@@salamisumo2 the public thinks it's cool to jump in like hyenas, like he wasn't a CRUTIAL core piece on a championship team.
@@salamisumo2 it's actually Chucks fault with all that stupid "bus driver" rhetoric that diminishes the rest of the team, despite the superstar not scoring 80 points a game.
Kenny actually finished tied for 17th in MVP voting in 1990-91
For reference, Kyrie has never finished with a share of the MVP voting
Madness
Wasn't sure where this was going but love how it ended
I mean kyrie has been on bad teams (early Cavs), as a second option or injured (Celtics) so it makes some sense he never gets any votes
@@PuchuKt second option? You mean the undoubted first option
@@rkoistheman i meant that separately, you know second option(nets, champ Cavs) or injured (Celtics, nets, even in the Cavs during the playoffs)
Different era,s, Different game now
Kenny is what you call a hall of fame role player, can't carry a team but excels in his role and depending on the match ups or the moment, can be the most important player that day. You don't win 2 championships without a player like Kenny supporting an all time great like Hakeem.
They need to talk about the other guys more the ones like Kenny because I never knew he was this good. Like I knew he was good but not this good. He needs more credit
He was known to be good during that era. People forget role players as each moves along. The same reason as to why people want to downplay Jordan's competition.
@@blowc1612 he wasn't a role player though, he was a 2nd option. The jokes from TNT became his narrative.
@@kaydee1485 just becsuse he was a 2nd option doesn't mean he isn't a role player. If you ain't a star you're a role player.
Kenny Smith layup over Sabonis in the USA vs Russia world championship was some gánster play. Sabonis was considered the best center in the world at one time. Plus the USA won by one basket show how brave Kenny was for going strong to the basket. Great video 🎉
Legends say that the reason why they won their second championship was because of Kenny being the voice of reason for the rockets with him saying things like "guys we have to not turn the ball over"
That and providing Hakeem with ample amounts of water.
And by not making the all star team which is by choice apparently 🤣
@@MrZahsome how many did you make since you think it's funny?
@@Carbine64 Lebron got cramps in San Antonio, probably cause he didn't have Kenny on his bench.
"The older he gets, the better he was" - Charles Barkley 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Smith was definitely not a pushover in the NBA. He was a good 3 point shooter, had good ball-handling skills and often found the open guy. If he had been the primary option on offense, he could have probably averaged 20+ points per game for at least a few seasons.
He was a great and near elite 3 point shooter for his era.
He averaged 17/7 for 2 seasons, so it's not like that's far-fetched.
He would've in Sacramento had they not fired Bill Russell who was building his system around Kenny. Kenny was Bill Russell's guy and the piece he wanted to build his team for the future around. The King's had other plans though. And to come off the Bench for Doc who he was clearly better than was nuts.
Last yr in his Hall Of Fame speech, Rudy Tomjanovich thanked Kenny (& Otis Thorpe) 4 making the greatest sacrifices of all his players and putting up w his substitution rotations. That context shows his #'s could've been far better, but he conceded 2 his role in order 2 win.
Rudy was a good coach of course, but had a real blind spot for Vernon Maxwell. Maxwell _killed_ their offense and Rudy T kept giving him the green light to shoot. So while it's admirable that Smiith made sacrifices, he shouldn't have needed too. Rudy T. should have utilized Smith way more on offense than he did.
He "conceded" because Cassell was clearly the better player, simple as it is. Even the 3 pointers (Kenny supposed specialty), Cassell achieve similar numbers
@@RRRRRRRRR33 Did you even watch this video?
1993 reg season
Kenny: FG% 48, 3P% 40
Sam: FG% 41, 3P% 29
1993 Playoffs
Kenny: FG% 45, 3P% 44
Sam: FG% 39%, 3P% 37
1994 reg season
Kenny: FG% 48, 3P% 42
Sam: FG% 42, 3P% 33
1994 Playoffs
Kenny: FG% 43, 3P% 44
Sam's FG% 43, 3P% 40.
Other than matching his FG% in the '94 playoffs, those #'s AREN'T close. I guess some ppl just wake up angry 2 lie & hate, but if you're more comfortable w your narrative than truth, do you.👍🏾I guess that's as "simple as it is."
@@disheemthomas4553 The total numbers are deceiving. As the 94 playoffs went along Cassell took over, he doubled the scoring efforts of Kenny in the 94 finals, shoot better from 3 and played better defense (as a rookie). Then in 95 the same thing, 14 pts per game for Cassell compared to 7 pts from Kenny, playing slightly less minutes and producing more when the matchups became tougher. And you wonder who was the better role player among these two? "those #'s AREN'T close", what a halfwit lol That's why you should not only look at box scores like a blind fool, go and watch the games, Cassell clearly took over. It's laughable how the US sports fans are so enamored with stats and numbers, but what is even the point if you don't understand them?
@@RRRRRRRRR33 Although of the utmost priority, the Finals is a sample portion in comparison 2 the entirety of a season & playoffs. You can't just skip over aspects that helped you get there. This was never a convo about 1 or 2 series, but nice try on the cherry pick. The #'s in this video aren't being highlighted simply bc they're good, but bc they were elite. The problem isn't where you're from, there are know-it-alls in every corner of the earth. You seem 2 know more than what the #'s reflect AND the COACH that intimately knew their foremost capabilities on every level in-game & practice. In their championship yrs, Kenny took more shots & still maintained much higher %'s, so yes that's significant. Then you downplay #'s that disprove your assertion only 2 then use NUMBERS 2 try 2 prove your point. 🤦🏿♂️😂 Guess you were feeling quite American, huh? Sam also took more shots in slightly less minutes in the '94 Finals, matched Kenny's shot total during that season & had more shots & minutes in '95. If you're gonna prove facts, contextualize. Either way, "slightly less minutes," less shots, etc. verify the SACRIFICE my initial comment was about in regards 2 the ROTATIONS that Rudy mentioned. & I never said anything about who the better role player was. Obviously talent based contributions are compromised in order 2 give way 2 other TALENT. Still, this is more reflective of 1's attitude than their skillset which is why his coach took the time 2 thank him in his HOF speech, knowing what their interactions & convos were based on strategy & necessity. Labeling you a half wit would be giving your wit far more credit than it deserves. ✌🏾
Kenny was much better than I thought. He has quite the part of the “NBA Story.” What a legend!
Great piece on Kenny Smith- one of the greatest point guards to come out of NY. It's worth mentioning he went to Archbishop Molloy where he was followed by another great point guard also named Kenny- Kenny Anderson.
From literally the same Projects too.
Finally someone put some damn RESPEK on Kenny's name.
I didn’t know a lot of this stuff…people really don’t be giving Kenny enough credit! Especially Shaq and Chuck!
Well poor Chuck… Kenny has two more Rings than him.
Kenny had a huge role in Huston's success, it was great to watch.
His dunk game is sneaky underrated too hey.......
Technically both of them got stopped by Kenny with the rockets in the playoffs
@@alanaldpal950 oh wow. I'm sure Chuck is Crying With His MVP, Olympic Gold Medal, Hall of Fame Induction and Top 75 Induction. oh wow I'm sure he envies Kenny "The role player who's more well know as an analyst" Smith.
I mean... Kenny is still a role player at the end of the day not saying he was bad but he definitely wasn't no franchise player. You're making it seem like he's on the same level as Shaq and Chuck, which he isn't. Kenny gives himself so much credit he makes himself seem like he's better than MJ.
Never realized how underrated he was
He's the klay thompson to steph curry. Never considered the best player on the team but always made the biggest buckets. He would've been one of the best shooters if he played in today's game
Damn. Didnt know Kenny was part of that Houston B2B championship. This guy is underrated. He deserved to be in the HOF. Imo
As a kid growing up in North Carolina in the 80's Kenny Smith was THE MAN to us.
I know Kenny is looked at as the fourth wheel on the TNT basketball show but this dude could ball when healthy.
His skill set was so good he participated in the three-point contest and the NBA dunk competition. People need to put respect on his name
Reminds me of Larry Bird's comment on Craig Hodges about where to find him.
Kenny mentioned the same thing y'all did that he was really close to being an All Star that one year and Chuck said you were a good player but ain't no way in hell you were gonna make the team 😂
Glad you made this. Most only know him for getting ribbed on inside the NBA. Dude was a true hero and stud player on the court. Definitely deserved this. Ty again.
Dude could’ve been an all star one or two years… great shooter, ball handler, passer, even dunker. It’s a shame his career ended early
A conversation between Chuck and Kenny on Inside the NBA:
Kenny: Hakeem used to tell me this all the time….
Chuck: Kenny, bring me some water?
Me: 😂😂😂
wow, what a wonderful breakdown.. i didnt know any of this and you even put the images and sequences to the facts.. thats so so valuable content.. 10 min that taught me so much.. thank u so much!!!
I remember those championships. He was a big part of those. Thanks for this video.
Kenny always deserved his flowers 💐 seriously. Such a key player
Very good shooter and solid passer creator as a PG. As someone mentions i think he would fit great in today's nba with the reliance on the three-point shot. I wen't to his basketball camp back in the mid 90's with one of my friends who lived in Houston. My friend won the free throw challange at the camp. He is the best player i´ve ever seen. He was the smallest participant and a great PG relative to size.
Let’s Go Rocket!!! 1995 game 5, 6, and 7 elimination games vs suns, Rockets used bench players last minutes of the game, game 5 Robert Horry, game 6 Kenny Smith, game 7 The kiss of death
Nice video, good to see Kenny getting some much deserved respect. I enjoyed watching him play, had some huge moments with the Rockets
GREAT video, learned sooo much about Kenny that I didn't know, despite watching so many Inside the NBA clips!
Kenny wasnt a superstaR but he was a player who was SMART. Like a coach on the floor. Every team needs one !!!
So he beat Shaq and Barkley. Wow. Neat
Most NBA Players will never become ALLSTARS but to try and have a career like Smith's is a honorable and worthwhile goal.
Kenny The Jet Smith! Meeting you was of the best moments of my life thank God. You're awesome bro!
Great video. Thanks for doing it. You should do a video on Andrew Toney, aka The Boston Strangler. Played for the Sixers in the 80s. Charles Barkley called him the best teammate he ever played with. He was an all-star and clutch playoff performer until foot injuries derailed his career. Thoughts?
Big Shoutout to Kenny The Jet Smith Queens Stand Up 🙌🏾
Grew up with him in Lefrak,we played ball together every day,I knew his father and sisters,and his brother Vince.Kenny grew 6 inches one summer his brother would have him shoot and dribble all night,I know cause I went to the benches outside the court in section 2 and watch them.
Kenny "The Jet" Smith! Respect 🙌
This video is awesome. Really puts Kenny into context and gives him his props. Thanks for putting this together
I loved the 90s Rockets Hakeem was and still maybe my fav player of Alltime and Kenny had some big moments to help win the chip both years that’s for sure
kenny was a solid player in the 90s...
They be disrespecting Kenny so much on Inside the NBA. Man Chuck and Shaq so salty they lost to his Rockets
Im from Houston and Kenny is hometown hero.
Man, I remember he was tough against my Suns in 94 & 95.
being at the top of the NBA in field goal percentage as a point guard is impressive
You're a good man for making this video. I'm sure he'd probably appreciate it.
he had a season where he went like 17 ppg 7apg there ya go that's about how good he was
why did all the young guys in the 80's look like they are 47?
Good stuff man!
THANK YOU FOR THIS... I love Inside the NBA and know Kenny has two rings but never really researched him so I appreciate this. Kenny looks so much better without hair.
Kenny is official. 2 rings what a career .
Kenny is actually a good nba player. Its just that he is overshadowed by the greatness of shaq and charles.
2000th like😎. Thanks for the content. I thought he was just decent but he was actually a very solid player, especially in that era
Been waiting on this one
My dad actually went to high school with Kenny smith
He’s the best at being the instigator on TNT
Yes he is.
His contribution to that show is immense.
I can't even watch that show It's so bad, and it's mostly because of Kenny.
Cant believe you didnt mention he was lights out on NBA Jam
I’m surprised that Kenny doesn’t bring up the fact that he whipped both Shaq and Barkley in the playoffs on his way to winning back to back championships…🤷🏽♂️
He was a borderline all-star a couple years and great starting PG.
You can sort of understand now why kenny struggles with the put downs shaq and chuck throw at him. He genuinely had a solid solid career
I lived in Houston during the Rockets reign and saw every game. Kenny was the best guard on a team full of great guards. Never made dumb mistakes, incredibly clutch. Mix him with Mad Max, Sam Cassell or Drexler and it was as underrated a backcourt as any in championship history
Put some respect on Kenny Smith's name. He helped eliminate Charles Barkley twice and swept Shaq and the Magic in the finals. As a side note he's the one the brought the segment "Goin' Fishing" to Inside the NBA.
Kenny "The Jet" Smith was a BALLER!!!
Kenny Smith was definitely underrated. He was nice. The Rockets def don't win without him
I never imagined that he was so good! those percentages are crazy!
Ok Kenny was that dude before the NBA! And still put in work!
Do Detlef please. He never gets love.
Same with jags rb Fred Taylor
Kenny looking like that kid on the basketball team in Stranger Things.
From this day forward I’m gonna forever put respect on Kenny’s name
Same, he’s a baller ⛹🏿
I always see chuck clowning him but kenny earned his rings man.
Have y’all done Robert shorty yet, if you have, I would like to see a Chris Bosh video because he was forced to retire because he had some kind of heart problem and I want to lear n more on that
Just like Chuck said: "Kenny, you will be included in the next NBA's Top 200 players in the future."
Chuck is corny as hell
Some people don’t understand that even if Kenny was a player that was riding the end of the bench at the time he still would’ve been in the top 400-500 top players in the world..watching for entertainment we forget the skills and talent these players have..
I loved Kenny's game and he put up some really good, if not spectacular #'s. He was a great example of a player on the verge of stardom who didn't quite get there but an admirable, respectable career nonetheless. His legacy is really as a key contributor to those two Houston Rocket Championship teams.
every superstar needs a jett!
I wish this was narrated by Shaq and Chuck
Kenny lowkey underrated af. People talk about him as if he was a third stringer.
Wow didn’t know truly how good Kenny Smith was & especially clutch! Also with that playoff 3pt% stat this forever confirms Kenny Smith > steph curry🤯😵😲🤯
My respect to him has increased more. I don't know he played in NBA, let alone be a starting PG for back to back championship team and pulling 40% from 3pt line. Impressive stats and achievement.
Can you guys do Dennis Rodman?
"The Greatest Rebounder of All Time'
His has
*Wow, great video, I had no idea about his NBA career just like the rest of us in the comments!*
He was really good and I he ultimate point guard. That's why he is a legend in the studio. 😊
He was good enough to bring water to Hakeem and even got his jersey retired!
Thanks for making this video!! Didn't realize just how good Smith was!!
Nice vid Kenny is underrated
Kenny was extra nice in college, the reason I came down the court the way I did as a PG. He was directing traffic the minute he got the ball, I owe my PG skills ALL to Kenny Smith (& Fat Lever).