In the NBA'Sernie Johnson was so excited to share the news of the death of a beloved long-time staff member.
On Thursday, May 8, the anchor and his co-hosts Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley were supported by the crew of the show - all of which united to share their deaths of Kevin Thomas of Stage HandHandHand HandHandHand HandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHandHand
"You're looking at us Inside the NBA Crew, this is as close as your home in the workplace.
Johnson continued: "Kevin Thomas is one of Studio J's stage players and has worked here for 30 years. He's a great teammate. You may not know him, but you've seen him. He's part of many of the skits we cook."
As Johnson said, Thomas participated in the images of many funny moments.
"This guy has a joyful sense of humor and a kindness to him, and that just appeals to you," Johnson said on the image of Thomas jokingly polishing O'Neal's toenails. "Whenever we need something, 'you know what, it's asking for Kevin.'
The former NBA star also paid tribute to his late colleagues, whose cause of death was not immediately known.
"The death was so sudden," said Barkley, 62. “You are with someone one day and then the next day you get a call from them disappearing.
Andrew Burke-Stevenson / Boston Globe by Getty Images
O'Neal added: "When they told me the other day, I heard it, but I don't want to hear it say, 'Who?' They said, "Kevin. "My Kevin?"
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Johnson ended the gloomy segment by further commemorating the show’s beloved members.
Johnson said: “He was one of those guys who came to work with a smile and his voice broke down when he hit the table with a pen.
"He was 70," Johnson said, adding that his wife, son and four grandchildren survived. "We prayed during this time, and it was incredibly difficult, and they knew how that husband, father, that grandfather was loved and respected. The studio would never be the same."