Kenny Smith's wife says race was DEFINITELY a factor when the ex-NBA star was denied a ride in NYC last week ... saying Kenny WATCHED the guy pick up a white passenger moments later.
We got Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith at LAX moments ago -- and she's PISSED about the situation TMZ Sports caught on video ... when Kenny was rejected by a driver who said his shift was over despite the fact his light was on.
The NYC Taxi and Limo Commission (TLC) says the cab records show the cabbie in question was indeed off-duty .