Former UNC basketball star Kenny Smith reacts to Hubert Davis' firing, shuts down coaching job interest

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North Carolina’s men’s basketball program parted ways with head coach Hubert Davis earlier this week after an upset loss to VCU in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

UNC did not disclose details about Davis’ departure, instead describing the move as a change in leadership. 

The former Tar Heels coach later confirmed on social media he was "let go" despite wanting to continue coaching at Chapel Hill.

Since Davis’ exit, several possible candidates with ties to UNC have emerged, including Kenny "The Jet" Smith, who was notably mentioned by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.

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North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis talks to Armando Bacot (5) during a game against the UC Riverside Highlanders Nov. 17, 2023, at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)

After praising Hubert Davis, who both played and later coached at North Carolina, Kenny Smith shut down any interest in the vacant job, calling speculation linking him to the opening "disrespectful."

"Yeah, we can talk about North Carolina," Smith, a basketball analyst, said during halftime of the Texas-Purdue Sweet 16 game in the NCAA tournament. 

"But that vacancy — I thought that was honestly disrespectful. But first of all, Coach Hubert Davis, thank you. Your service and what you did for North Carolina basketball as a player and as a coach, you moved it forward. I think people forget that because of one game here and there."

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