Two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith said he believes he's still good enough to be in the league in a recent interview with Pierce Simpson for Complex Sports.
Nick Young, still got game, still can play. Jamal Crawford, still got game, still can play. Isaiah Thomas, still got game, still can play,” said Smith. Joe Johnson, who obviously still got game, still plays. I’ve watched their GM come up to me and ask me like, ‘yo, why you not playing?’ You know why I’m not playing. You got those 30 teams, or the top three people on each 30 team, and exclude them, give me the 4 through 15th man, just the 4 through 15.
J.R. Smith discusses a golf game with Michael Jordan, during which he got "smoked" by the NBA legend.
[Pippen did not mince words](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/scottie-pippen-shared-more-thoughts-on-michael-jordans-the-last-dance-and-he-didnt-mince-words) when talking about his disdain for [The Last Dance (which drew backlash](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/how-michael-jordan-allegedly-feels-about-the-backlash-from-scottie-pippen-and-others-over-the-last-dance) from several players) and the nature of his relationship with Jordan. In one instance, [Pippen’s shade even drew the response of veteran NBA coach](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/after-scottie-pippen-throws-more-shade-at-michael-jordan-a-former-nba-coach-has-an-honest-take) Stan Van Gundy. While discussing his game of golf with his childhood hero, Smith explained that the two went as far as to make wagers on the game, in which he apparently got crushed by the former Chicago Bull. Smith had the pleasure of hitting a few balls with His Airness, and apparently the hall of famer “smoked” him and delivered some trash talk. [Netflix subscription](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/netflix-subscription-the-plans-the-price-and-whats-included)) know just how “personal” he takes things on the court. Those who watched him play or tuned in for ESPN’s The Last Dance (streamable with a
The former Knicks is convinced that one moment changed the course of his NBA career.
Smith's 15.1 points and 4.3 rebounds over five Knicks seasons have been his numbers with any of his five teams, the last being the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 (appearing in six regular season games during the team's run to the NBA Finals in the Walt Disney World bubble). Since the blooper, which partly led to the Warriors' four-game sweep, Smith has appeared in only 27 games, including 10 during the Lakers' Disney World postseason run. He also implied that a similar fate might have befallen NBA contemporaries Jamal Crawford (a fellow former Knick), Joe Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, and Nick Young. Smith has rebranded himself with the links rather than the layups: the 16-year NBA veteran has made a further name for himself at North Carolina A&T State University on both its golf team and in its classrooms. "Anybody can sit here and tell you that that’s a fact," Smith said when Simpson brought up the concept. "You got the top three people on those 30 teams and exclude them.
J.R. Smith did not play at all in the NBA in the last two seasons and his last action in the league came in the 2020 NBA Finals as a member of the Lakers in ...
Michael Jordan, never missing an opportunity to live inside the head of his opponent rent-free, made sure that JR Smith knew his place.
That is something JR Smith should always be proud of, especially as he continues to finish his studies at North Carolina A&T, all the while being a member of the Aggies’ golf team. And JR Smith, a two-time NBA champion in his own right, had to learn this the hard way when he played golf with the 59 year-old Hall-of-Famer assumed by most to be the greatest basketball player of all time. While most of Jordan’s peers receive the brunt of his competitive fire on the basketball court, especially during the 1990s when Jordan led the Bulls to two separate three-peats, he is just as ruthless off the court.
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time in the NBA. He was an ultra-competitive athlete who pushed himself to great lengths in.
It Was One Of The Most Childish Feelings I've Felt As A Grown Ass Man." Whoever is planning to face off against MJ on the Golf course in the future, better brace themselves for some epic trash talk. Jordan was obviously taking a shot at Smith by saying he doesn't have deep pockets like MJ to be able to bet thousands and even JR had to admit that was a really good one. Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time in the NBA. It was one of the most childish feelings I've felt as a grown ass man. He needed something to keep his competitive juices flowing and that is where golf came in.
J.R. Smith found a new passion since retiring from the NBA in 2020. The two-time NBA champion started playing golf seriously.
What do you want me to say?’ It was great for me.” You had a good career, not a great career. He did get a chance to play legendary Michael Jordan who is also big on golf.
Michael Jordan is a man who left a big mark on the NBA scene. There are many successes behind him, and he is considered one of the greatest, ...
However, Jordan showed that he is more dominant in that match and won. I know what you meant.' and then he threw this jab at me, low-key and I was just like, 'Ooh, that was a good one.' , he said 'Yeah, you had a good career. J.R recalled his match against Michael Jordan, in which Jordan absolutely dominated him and showed that he is a huge talent in golf as well. At the end of his career, Jordan needed to continue playing sports, and golf was one of the ways to relax and compete. Michael Jordan and Smith wanted to dominate in that match, so in some moments they used trash talk. Jordan fell in love with golf and it became an integral part of his life.
'I've never had a person ... in a day or two change how I think and how I look at my own self-worth,' said Smith.
When I got my first A in class, it was like me dunking on somebody or hitting a game-winner.” In a recent [interview](https://stories.complex.com/jr-smith-pivot-tips/3/) with Complex’s Pierce Simpson, Smith credited Allen with helping him begin a new chapter of his life with a fresh perspective on his own self-worth. The two were on a trip to the Dominican Republic, and Smith noticed the UConn product was keeping busy taking online courses in his downtime. I could tell he really wanted to see me succeed regardless of (if) it was basketball or something else; that’s something I take with me. “I can tell the true care he had for me. While he’d link up with James for one more postseason stint with James in 2020, it would mark the end of his career in the league.
J.R. Smith spoke about his journey to becoming a 4.0 GPA student-athlete at North Carolina A&T and moving on from the NBA that moved on from him.
Smith continues to evolve away from the game where he’s had great moments (two titles, 2013 Sixth Man of the Year) and massive blunders (Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals), Smith can move on knowing that he’s defying what people mischaracterize him as. No matter what anyone may think about the “100 percent fact” that the NBA has moved on from him, Smith has found his purpose. “It was for me but more importantly, what I’ve done was for them to understand you can… “She looked at me and told me, ‘Daddy, I’m really happy you went back to school,’ I had to get up and walk away,” Smith said. When I got my first A in class, it was like me dunking on somebody or hitting a game-winner.” The proud moment fulfilled a part of Smith’s purpose in pursuing a college degree.
The former Lakers and Cavs champ believes a number of veterans are being blackballed by the league.
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