Kenny Smith: Leaving 'Inside the NBA' for front-office job 'inevitable'

In what can only be described as heartbreaking news, Kenny Smith said in a recent interview that it's "inevitable" that he will eventually leave "Inside the NBA" to take a front-office job.

"It’s inevitable from a basketball standpoint I will be moving on," Smith told FOS when asked about leaving Inside the NBA. "The consumption and production of information that I’ve received, the way I’m able to relay it, and the relationships, it’s inevitable. It’s just inevitable…You’re around things. You’re privy to information for 20 years from runners to agents to general managers and owners that no one else has been privy to. No one else. Every team in the league has told me something they’ve told no one else."

It's no secret that Smith is well-respected around the league and the fact that teams would target him for a job is not surprising. However, it is tough to hear him talk so casually about leaving Inside the NBA, which is easily the best postgame show in all of sports. And while Smith may not have the wit of Charles Barkley or the goofiness of Shaq, his insight and ability to play off those guys has made him an essential part of the Inside crew.

So how soon should we be expecting Smith to leave? It sounds like it may be sooner rather than later.

"Right now we’re in a COVID-19 world," Smith explained. "But after this 22-game thing, then the dust will clear. Because everyone’s not really sure where they are. They’re thinking, ‘Are we still where we were when we left off? Are we better? Do we have another chance since this is the start of a new season?’ Once that diminishes and goes away, my phone always rings. One day I’m going to answer and they’re going to answer back at the same time…Both parties will say yes."