Kenny “The Jet” Smith, two-time NBA Champion and analyst for TNT’s Sports Emmy Award-winning show Inside the NBA, is joining the FanDuel Group team as part of an exclusive content deal with the sportsbook operator.
This new partnership designates the firm as the exclusive sports betting and daily fantasy provider for Smith who will appear in FanDuel advertising and TNT promotions featuring free to play contests. Smith will also provide unique content for FanDuel Group’s social media channels.
In addition to Smith becoming an official member of the team, alongside his TV partner Charles Barkley, FanDuel will debut a new free to play game exclusively for Turner Sports featuring between eight and 12 Over/Under style questions.
For the remainder of the NBA season, players will be able to test their knowledge alongside Smith each night for Over/Under supremacy. FanDuel Over/Under will be integrated into Inside the NBA and NBA on TNT broadcasts encouraging fans to compete for a share of a $5,000 prize pool.
“Partnering with FanDuel has been a great addition to Inside the NBA,” said Smith. “I am looking forward to collaborating with FanDuel on future projects, as well as, interacting with our viewers each night through FanDuel’s new free to play game that will become a bigger part of our broadcasts.”
In July 2020, FanDuel Group became the exclusive sportsbook partner for NBA programming on Turner Sports properties including content integrations across Bleacher Report. Smith, alongside fellow FanDuel partner Barkley, has been educating viewers on sports betting via FanDuel Sportsbook integrations since last year’s NBA playoffs.
“Over his 23 years with Turner Sports, Kenny’s trademark humor and insight has stirred the pot and helped make Inside the NBA one of the best shows on television. We’re excited to feature him as part of FanDuel’s branded content across our NBA programming,” said Will Funk, Executive Vice President, Sports Partnerships and Branded Content, Turner Sports.
Smith is the newest member of FanDuel’s deep roster of exclusive sports betting talent and influencers headlined by Pat McAfee and the PMI Team, in addition to Charles Barkley, World Wide Wob, Cousin Sal and JJ Zachariason.
“Kenny Smith is an NBA Champion, a beloved NBA analyst, the all-time assist leader at the University of North Carolina and someone whose magnetic personality and smile brings people together,” said Mike Raffensperger, Chief Marketing Officer of FanDuel Group.
He added: “We love Kenny on TV every Thursday night, but it’s his positivity and tireless dedication to the community that made us want to add his voice to our brand roster of sports personalities.”
