On the show, Smith’s has also appeared alongside Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas, while host Ernie Johnson has been a mainstay throughout. After Smith’s playing days had ended, he absorbed lessons from the late Kobe Bryant, including on a charity game to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina and from his fellow stars-turned-analysts on Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. By that time, Smith had witnessed a teammate’s transformation into a leader – Hakeem Olajuwon, whose conversion to Islam was accompanied by a growth in maturity. In Sacramento, Russell shared insights on the mindset of a champion, which proved invaluable for Smith years later, on the Rockets’ back-to-back title runs in 19.
As a visiting high-schooler from Queens, Smith felt under the weather in Chapel Hill, and Jordan offered to take him to a local pharmacy. Smith was frequently on the receiving end of that competitiveness. His Tar Heels teammate was none other than Michael Jordan – who was known as “Mike Jordan” back then and drove a blue Monte Carlo, but was already showing his characteristic competitiveness on the court.
He went on to the University of North Carolina, where he was mentored by the legendary Dean Smith. Smith played high school basketball under standout coach Jack Curran at one of New York City’s premier programs, Archbishop Molloy. Collectively, he calls them “great people who did great things in their fields.”