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Kenny Smith has shared a studio with Charles Barkley for over two decades. Survived every Inside the NBA segment Ernie Johnson has thrown at him and spent years being the target of the Jet jokes that have made Thursday nights essential television. On Saturday, Smith gave the basketball world something new to celebrate, and his Inside the NBA family showed up exactly as expected.

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Smith married Tia Jurcic, a Croatian influencer, at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast, California, marking his third trip down the aisle. They announced the good news in a viral joint Instagram post, reading “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”

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The newlyweds also showcased a carousel of photos from their outdoor ceremony. Smith and Jurcic posed beneath a golden chandelier surrounded by white drapery and arrangements of white and pink roses. The Jet wore a white suit with a black bowtie, while Jurcic chose a strapless gown with a full, Cinderella-style skirt.

The NBA world reacted to the moment with congratulatory messages in the comment section. Barkley, Smith’s “Inside the NBA” co-host, kept it short and sweet: “Congrats, Jet!!”

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Reggie Miller followed with “Congrats Brotha,” while Chris Webber added his own “Congrats!!” Former NBA forward Carlos Boozer added “Congrats fam,” and Danny Green also sent in his well-wishes with “Congrats my guy!!!”

The wedding capped a relationship Smith and Jurcic had kept largely private. The two went public in February 2024 at a Super Bowl event before Smith proposed in October 2025 with a beach-set engagement photo captioned “YES to you forever.”

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Jurcic has a son, Domenik, from a previous marriage with former basketball player Chris Warren, and was also married to Mario Mamić from 2017 to 2023. Kenny Smith has children from both of his first two marriages: Dawn Reavis (Kayla and KJ) and Gwendolyn Osborne (Malloy, London, and Monique).

Despite moving on from previous relationships years ago, Smith revealed he continues to maintain close bonds with his kids, whom he calls “a big part of what I do. I’m influenced by them, just as much as I might influence them.”

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Back in February, Smith shed light on how he met Tia, his third wife, who is the stepdaughter of prominent Croatian economist and politician Ljubo Jurcic. On an episode of the Big Boy’s Neighborhood, the NBA legend shared that he had been working on an event in Abu Dhabi when a young boy, Domenik, came to him.

“Kid comes up to me, and he’s speaking perfect English, so I’m like, ‘Where are you from? He’s like, ‘Croatia,'” Smith recalled what happened at a Mavericks game.

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“So I’m like, ‘Oh, you’re here with Luka [Doncic]. He’s like, ‘No, I don’t know Luka. I’m just here with my mom,” Smith jokingly explained. “I had my kids there, so I’m like, ‘How do I run game [with] my kids here?’”

Smith then took a picture with Domenik, which captured Jurcic’s attention, and they haven’t looked back ever since.

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Interestingly, this was the second marriage in Smith’s family this year. In May, Kenny’s daughter, Kayla, tied the knot with NFL star Terrell Edwards at The Biltmore Estate in Asheville. The father-daughter duo entered the venue in royal style, seated in a pristine white horse carriage.

The following week, when Kenny returned to Inside the NBA, his analyst partners were expectedly waiting to ask him about the special evening. Smith admitted that he didn’t anticipate getting as emotional as he did during the wedding.

“My baby’s married!” Smith said with a big smile. “It felt like I was in a movie… I teared up, I’m not gonna lie.”

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Immediately after hearing that, Shaq funnily pulled out a roll of what looked like toilet paper from under the desk and handed it to Smith.

Once that video made it to social media, Kayla confirmed the story, writing, “He def criedddd😂!”

Kenny had the face of a proud, emotional dad throughout that television segment.

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Pivoting back to Smith’s own wedding, the ceremony adds a new chapter to a career already defined by longevity. He has won two championships as a player with Houston in the mid ’90s, followed by more than two decades as one of the most recognizable voices in basketball media.

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Ubong Richard

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Ubong Archibong is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports, bringing over two years of experience in basketball coverage. Having previously worked with Sportskeeda and FirstSportz, he has developed a strong foundation in delivering timely and engaging content around the league. His coverage focuses on game analysis, player performances, and evolving narratives across the National Basketball Association. Blending statistical insight with storytelling, Ubong aims to go beyond the immediate headline by placing performances and moments within a broader context, helping readers better understand the dynamics shaping the game. His work prioritizes clarity, accessibility, and a fan-first approach that connects audiences to both the action and the personalities behind it. Before joining EssentiallySports, Ubong covered the NBA and WNBA across multiple platforms, building experience in fast-paced reporting and deadline-driven publishing. His background in content writing has strengthened his ability to balance speed with accuracy, ensuring consistent and reliable coverage for a global audience.

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Shreya Singh

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