Zhaire Smith Rumors

Bedridden, in constant pain, and unable to eat or drink, Zhaire could only sleep for 30 minutes at a time, and only with the help of morphine. He spent his nights watching 76ers game films and doing some informal scouting for coach Brett Brown, who would check in with him on FaceTime. Then-teammate Markelle Fultz often texted, but Zhaire rarely had the energy to respond. He was too weak to do physical activities, save for thumb wars with Aundre, who slept by his side at the hospital each night. Zhaire’s days were spent meditating with his mom, Andrea. The only other way to help Zhaire relax was the repetitive motion of twisting his hair. “They were calming me down, but I was throwing temper tantrums,” Zhaire says. “Everyday, I was like, ‘Am I getting out? Can I drink? Can I eat? I was so thirsty.”’

Zhaire doesn’t know precisely what caused his allergic reaction. Perhaps it was cross-contact with peanuts, perhaps cross-contact with something else. He knows the Sixers were careful with his meals before the reaction, and have taken even more precautions since. (A recent food allergy test revealed new, lesser allergies: shellfish, green beans, cabbage, peas, and sesame.) He drinks seven protein shakes a day (he downed three shakes during his hour-long conversation with GQ), and he treasures his mom’s cooking, especially her go-to dish of pasta and chicken strips. “Since the reaction, if I didn’t eat something previously, I’m not going to try it now,” Zhaire says. He maintains that he’s not nervous, though there are signs he’s working out the psychological kinks that come after a major allergic reaction. He is, for instance, cutting out any foods that could even possibly cause him trouble.