Charles Barkley has sent a ‘get well’ message to his longtime colleague Kenny Smith after he was forced to abruptly leave from the March Madness studio.
The NBA legend-turned-broadcaster was a notable absentee from the NCAA Tournament action on Friday, sparking concern and a wave of fan theories online.
The drama began on Thursday night when Smith’s alma mater, the North Carolina Tar Heels, suffered a devastating 82-78 loss to 11th-seeded VCU.
UNC had held a commanding 19-point lead before the Rams mounted an incredible come-from-behind upset that sent the blue-blood program packing.
Shortly after the final buzzer, Smith – a former standout star for the Tar Heels – was nowhere to be found on the CBS desk during the post-game coverage.
The sudden disappearance led social media users to joke that the two-time NBA champion simply ‘couldn’t handle the loss’ of his beloved college team.
Charles Barkley has sent a ‘get well’ message to his longtime colleague Kenny Smith
‘Is he under the weather or crying about the UNC loss?’ one fan quipped on X, while others suggested he had walked off the set in protest.
However, as the Round of 64 coverage tipped off on Friday, host Adam Zucker officially cleared the air and shut down the rumors surrounding Smith’s absence.
Zucker revealed that the Houston Rockets icon had actually taken ill on Thursday night during the clash between Michigan and Howard.
Smith reportedly began feeling ‘under the weather’ during the broadcast and was forced to leave the studio mid-session to seek rest.
Evidently still not recovered in time for Friday’s slate of games, Smith was replaced on the main desk by two-time WNBA champion Renee Montgomery.
Despite the health scare, Barkley couldn’t resist a signature jab at his Inside the NBA partner while wishing him a speedy recovery.
‘Keep your shirt on at the beach, Kenny,’ Barkley joked during the broadcast, poking fun at his colleague’s well-known liking for fitness.
The illness marks the second major shake-up for the tournament’s broadcasting team this week following the loss of play-by-play voice Brian Anderson.
