Since his debut on Inside the NBA in 1998, fans have loved and appreciated Kenny The Jet Smith. The 2x NBA Champion’s playful banter with Charles Barkley gave the show its initial direction, which the fans enjoyed. Apart from the immense success on the show, the 10-year NBA veteran has maintained a low profile in his personal life. Especially since his divorce in 2018, the former Rockets star has kept things under wraps.

That’s why at the beginning of the year, when there was a picture with Tia Jurcic, the netizens did not know how to react. Since then, the pictures of the two have been a common occurrence. It seems the Jet is ready for another chapter in his life, this time with Jurcic. But who is the Croatian woman, who seemingly has the attention of Smith?

Is Kenny Smith making his relationship public?

As stated, since the first posts, there have been multiple uploads. Only the first one from January was shared by Tia Jurcic, and the rest of them have been a collaborative post on Instagram. In August, the pair celebrated Jurcic’s 40th birthday. But in March, it was Kenny Smith’s birthday, and as per Dnevnik.hr, the deleted post had a special message for the alum of North Carolina.

“Happy birthday, love,” she wrote alongside a photo of them together on her Instagram story. She also dedicated a post which is now deleted with another photo of them posing together. “Happy birthday to my special someone!”

If true, this also marks a new beginning for the Croatian. She was previously married twice, just like Kenny Smith. Her previous marriage ended last year, and even her appearance from the start of the year caught people’s attention.

Because she moved to the USA after six years of marriage with Mario Mamic.”Mr. and Mrs. Mamic, regardless of their decision to divorce, remain on friendly terms. Given their many years of living together and the close relationship between their children, they are determined to continue to support and protect these relationships. Therefore, they hope that the public and the media will respect their wish to protect their privacy during this sensitive period.” Story magazine stated after the respective attorneys of the former couple gave their statements.

“It’s true, Tia and I are divorcing by mutual consent. Our children’s happiness remains our priority and we will do everything we can to protect their privacy. The two of us will continue to build a good relationship that befits parents who put family above all else,” entrepreneur and football manager Mario Mamic told Story exclusively.

Although the former couple have no kids of their own, they have assumed the duties of three children. Before Mamic, Jurcic was married to basketball player Chris Warren, with whom she had a son Dominik. That marriage was for 5 years until 2015. Even they seem to be on good terms post-separation. Mamic has sons Jakov and Josip from his former marriage with Monika Kravic.

Looking back at TNT analyst’s previous marriages

Just like his current partner, The Jet had two previous relationships. Dawn Reavis, the director and writer of the film All for You, married the former NBA player in 1990. They share two children, R&B singer Kayla and KJ Smith, a former hooper at North Carolina and now a basketball analyst for the website On3.com.

Kayla Brianna also added a heartwarming birthday message for Jurcic. “Happy birthday to the most amazing person. I can’t wait to celebrate today with you.”

Reavis and Smith parted ways after 15 years of marriage in 2005. After that, Kenny Smith was not single for a long time. In 2006, he tied the knot with English model Gwendolyn Osborne. She is known for The Price is Right, where she worked for 12 years (2005-2017). And she did not limit herself to one medium. She was also part of other notable movies like Wonder Woman 1984, Jack and Jill, and Any Given Sunday.

Their relationship lasted for 12 years, as the couple called it quits in 2018. At the time, Osborne spoke to The Blast, that she initiated the divorce, plus no one was to be blamed for their separation. She also co-founded Smith Entertainment Group along with Kenny Smith. And although she was once the COO of the company, her post-divorce status remains unavailable in the public domain.

Other reports stated Kenny Smith paid $1 million as a divorce settlement, and to pay $16,000 per month for child support until 2028. Smith shares two children with the model, a son named Malloy and a daughter, London. Since then, the 2x NBA Champion did not publicize any romantic relationships.

After the initial posts with Jurcic, the rumors once again gained traction after a recent absence from the analyst. “The week of Thanksgiving, Kenny off, I don’t know–you guys tie the loose ends together.” The studio host, Ernie Johnson, made it clear why Kenny The Jet Smith was absent from the show. It turned out to be a short hiatus, as he missed only one episode.