Three Playoff games were postponed during the 2020 Bubble season. After Jacob Blake was fatally shot by police, leading to widespread anger and demonstrations, players organised a boycott. Back in 2020, after seeming emotional on Inside the NBA and expressing support for the players' choice to participate in the protest, Kenny left the studio, leaving Shaq and Charles Barkley speechless.
Before walking off he said, “I don’t know if I’m appropriate enough to say it, what the players are feeling and how they’re feeling. I haven’t talked to any player. Even driving here and getting into the studio. Hearing calls and people talking. For me, right now, as a black man, as a former player, it’s best for me to support the players and just not be here tonight.”
Kenny smith opens up about this incident
The Inside the Crew pundit also discussed Shaquille O'Neal in a Big Boy interview. The former NBA champion emphasised Diesel's business savvy to the audience. He said that Shaq is the owner of Forever 21, the Brook brothers' rights, and Marilyn Monroe's rights. He referred to Shaq as the "most astute businessman I know."The Jet's position is still important as NBA players attempt to strike a balance between business-related considerations and social justice causes.