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'authors': ['Jordan Cohn'], 'content': [{'data': {'text': 'It was with a heavy heart that NBA TV announced the death of longtime reporter and analyst Sekou Smith. He passed away at 48 years old after a battle with COVID-19.', 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/ckkerzb8b000eo8p9610mv6ky@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1354219394545680385', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Turner Sports family mourns the loss of our very own, Sekou Smith.<br><br>Our thoughts are with his family and friends. <a href="https://t.co/97mu4bylfA">pic.twitter.com/97mu4bylfA</a></p>&mdash; NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1354219394545680385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkes8aez001x3f73o7qftirk@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Smith joined the Turner family in 2009, working in various roles with NBA.com and NBA TV. He appeared on multiple shows, podcasts and blogs and was a beloved fixture of the NBA community.', 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/ckkes8eoq00263f73d1jhkqiq@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1354223544411041792">NBA Commissioner Adam Silver</a> released a statement following the announcement of Smith\'s death, calling him &quot;one of the most affable and dedicated reporters in the NBA and a terrific friend to so many across the league.&quot;', 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/ckkesafmf002g3f7392xyn5sx@published'}, {'data': {'text': "Silver's memory of Smith represented the sentiments of many players and coaches, several of whom also took to Twitter to show their thoughts.", 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/ckkesc15r002q3f73oj4w3qk6@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/CP3/status/1354221056991649796', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Man today just got a little heavier... my condolences to Sekou’s wife, family, friends, and extended NBA family. What a kind and compassionate man we just lost. 🙏🏾🕊</p>&mdash; Chris Paul (@CP3) <a href="https://twitter.com/CP3/status/1354221056991649796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesdxle00433f73sohekwc1@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/rudygobert27/status/1354230948779479043', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RIP Sekou Smith 🙏🏽</p>&mdash; Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) <a href="https://twitter.com/rudygobert27/status/1354230948779479043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesdg3i003t3f739xjw2stn@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/JCrossover/status/1354233637726609415', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sekou Smith was one of my favorite people in the business. Always felt like it was family when we would talk. Always warm, always real... RIP 🙏🏾</p>&mdash; 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) <a href="https://twitter.com/JCrossover/status/1354233637726609415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesd5ye003j3f73st5os1vr@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/realStanVG/status/1354247269013401609', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The NBA community lost a great man today in Sekou Smith. While I’ve known him since he was with the AJC but was lucky to work with him at NBA TV. I got to know him well enough to know 3 things — I was lucky to spend time with him, I wanted to know him better and he was a good man</p>&mdash; Stan Van Gundy (@realStanVG) <a href="https://twitter.com/realStanVG/status/1354247269013401609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesd3pe003a3f73j7q9uh9p@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Van Gundy shared more about Smith in a press conference.', 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/ckkesfugs005e3f7382623i3i@published'}, {'data': {'text': "&quot;Just a great, great person,&quot; Van Gundy said. &quot;Cared about other people, great sense of humor, positive upbeat guy, extremely intelligent... it just hit hard. I think for all of us this COVID thing has been painful, to say the least, but when you lose somebody that you know and that you admire and respect, and who's young... it's just really, really hard.&quot;", 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/ckkesg7kn005p3f73ik4o88tz@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA/status/1354227739562303488', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stan Van Gundy on the passing of Sekou Smith <a href="https://t.co/KGfpreZUdj">pic.twitter.com/KGfpreZUdj</a></p>&mdash; New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA/status/1354227739562303488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesisbn006b3f731qab7fwj@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<a href="https://twitter.com/NickFriedell/status/1354222388196438018">Warriors head coach Steve Kerr</a> said that he was &quot;devastated&quot; and that he and the Warriors express their condolences to Smith\'s family.', 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/ckkesiwwd006l3f734xzzqxb5@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Fellow reporters, journalists and NBA media personalities were also devastated at the news and shared their thoughts over social media.', 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/ckkespry7006x3f73zv5iph2d@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/ArashMarkazi/status/1354221542956130306', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPSekou?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPSekou</a>🏀 <a href="https://t.co/DsQ4JR445T">pic.twitter.com/DsQ4JR445T</a></p>&mdash; Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArashMarkazi/status/1354221542956130306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesrdk3007j3f73g7u3h7uu@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1354219020355067904', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sekou Smith was the very best of us. Smart. Funny. Unflinching. Full of good. A lot of days and nights on the road with him – Bubble, Finals, Olympics, wherever – and always this: Photos of his kids playing ball, or graduating, or leaving for college. Godspeed, my friend.</p>&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1354219020355067904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesrf6i007t3f73qu4npblq@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/malika_andrews/status/1354218303942758401', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sekou Smith was one of the first NABJ-ers to take me under his wing and make me feel like I belonged. He pushed to bring the best out of young reporters, was a fierce advocate of diversity in journalism — and did it with a smile on his face. A pro. Our friend. He is missed.</p>&mdash; Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) <a href="https://twitter.com/malika_andrews/status/1354218303942758401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesrkvf00843f73muwbptkt@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1354217897917378561', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What I’d give for one more bike ride in the bubble with you brother. Along with <a href="https://twitter.com/THE_Morgann?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@THE_Morgann</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcJSpears?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarcJSpears</a> and John Scott, we bonded like never before. <a href="https://twitter.com/SekouSmithNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SekouSmithNBA</a> fell a few times, but he got up and kept riding. Now he’s riding up high. Rest easy big brother. Love you. <a href="https://t.co/dRbbBCpseP">pic.twitter.com/dRbbBCpseP</a></p>&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1354217897917378561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesrr6f008f3f73mnva01d5@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/johnschuhmann/status/1354218026284048389', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sekou Smith was my brother from another. We bonded from day 1, mostly because he bonded with everybody from day 1. I’m absolutely gutted, especially for his wife, his kids &amp; his pops. I can’t describe how much his friendship will be missed.<br><br>I love you, brother. <a href="https://t.co/ihV9CXlgoY">pic.twitter.com/ihV9CXlgoY</a></p>&mdash; John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnschuhmann/status/1354218026284048389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesrxgo008q3f73bqvz598g@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/NotoriousOHM/status/1354216804823019520', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Heartbroken for his family. Sekou was pure goodness. It was impossible not to bust out laughing with him. Highlight of trips to Indy/ATL were meals with him. I marveled at his talent, players/coaches loved/trusted him. Our last dinner, we talked life, perspective. I’ll miss you! <a href="https://t.co/08vmVhYfZ3">pic.twitter.com/08vmVhYfZ3</a></p>&mdash; Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) <a href="https://twitter.com/NotoriousOHM/status/1354216804823019520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkess5nc00913f73xlytjj7j@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/VinceGoodwill/status/1354216750401916931', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sekou was good to me for no reason. He welcomed me into the fraternity of beat writers when I was very young and very green. We could talk about Michigan football, the league, life, anything. I’ll miss him dearly. Tough day, man</p>&mdash; Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) <a href="https://twitter.com/VinceGoodwill/status/1354216750401916931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkessb0d009c3f732wkxo418@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/1354216374902673408', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rest In Peace &amp; Power, Sekou Smith. Met him when he was covering the Pacers early in his career and enjoyed watching his rise. Always found him to be a great, honorable, loyal &amp; funny brother. Prayers up for his family 🙏🏼</p>&mdash; Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/1354216374902673408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkessizk009n3f73hco3npm2@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/ByTimReynolds/status/1354215844239335424', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sekou Smith was always cheerful, always pleasant, loved the game and loved the fact that he could tell stories about this game. <br><br>I was humbled and honored to call him a friend.<br><br>May he rest in peace, and may God bless his family, friends and colleagues in these awful days.</p>&mdash; Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByTimReynolds/status/1354215844239335424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkessohf009y3f73tvvfma4n@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/SIChrisMannix/status/1354215097552531472', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gutted to hear about the death of Sekou Smith. An extraordinary person and a friend to so many in this business.</p>&mdash; Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SIChrisMannix/status/1354215097552531472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkessx2x00a93f730nvens0y@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1354223559493767170', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Man Sekou, I learned in the NBA Bubble what a joy you were to be around on a daily basis, how wonderful of a father and family man you were and just a clever, funny and brilliant dude. This is devastating. Blessings to his family and farewell to a one-of-a-kind man. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sekou?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sekou</a> <a href="https://t.co/nFZvX7lqu7">pic.twitter.com/nFZvX7lqu7</a></p>&mdash; gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) <a href="https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1354223559493767170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkest43300ak3f73ax8mj49e@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/BenGolliver/status/1354223686698508289', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thoughtful writer. NBA podcast pioneer. Big brother to anyone who asked. Hilarious. Curious. Welcoming. Gracious. No time for fakery. Loved debate for debate’s sake. Couldn’t go 10 minutes w/o mentioning family. Made his teammates better. As good as it gets. RIP <a href="https://twitter.com/SekouSmithNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SekouSmithNBA</a></p>&mdash; Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenGolliver/status/1354223686698508289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesta9200av3f73xegkpewl@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/johnhollinger/status/1354223795985395718', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No. Hell no. <br><br>I spent hundreds of long nights in the bowels of then-Philips Arena with Sekou Smith, and everything you&#39;re reading is true. Great writer, even better human: Always upbeat and helpful, loved his Wolverines and his hometown of GRap, and loved his kids even more.</p>&mdash; John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnhollinger/status/1354223795985395718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesthb000b63f733il75e7q@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/PompeyOnSixers/status/1354236187276431361', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’ll never forget my first interaction with Sekou Smith. I walked away thinking he was the coolest dude around. He was extremely helpful and treated me like we were longtime friends. Today’s news really hit me hard. Rest In Peace, my friend! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽</p>&mdash; Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) <a href="https://twitter.com/PompeyOnSixers/status/1354236187276431361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkestp5400bh3f73jas3xzp5@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/Baxter/status/1354246117299343360', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sekou Smith was the person and professional that you&#39;d hope to be. Any moment with him was a highlight of your day -- and especially any NBA trip. So endlessly kind, caring and supportive. I join my peers in saying that he was the best of us. My deepest condolences to his family.</p>&mdash; Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baxter/status/1354246117299343360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkesu55400bs3f73m5kjloil@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/SteinmetzNBA/status/1354215730066034689', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tell me it’s not true about Sekou Smith.</p>&mdash; Matt Steinmetz (@SteinmetzNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteinmetzNBA/status/1354215730066034689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2021</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/ckkese6z4004d3f73ap4693vp@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<strong>LISTEN NOW on the\xa0</strong><a 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