NFL
By: Zachary Draves
Life has its unexpected twists and turns that can either make us or break us. Sometimes your preconceived vision of what your life was supposed to be doesn’t always materialize and in the case of former NBA player JR Smith, it turned out to be for the better.
(Courtesy: NBA.Com)
The two-time champion and 2013 Sixth Man of the Year is now the subject of a new four-part docuseries entitled Redefined: J.R. Smith which is being executive produced by former teammate LeBron James and Maverick Carter under their athlete empowerment media brand Uninterrupted. The director is Philip Knowlton.
The series chronicles his post-NBA journey in going back to school in pursuit of a college degree and taking on a new sport by joining the men’s golf team at North Carolina A&T University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Greensboro.
In 2004, JR Smith decided to forgo an opportunity to go to the University of North Carolina and fulfill his hoop dream by declaring for the NBA Draft at age 19. Throughout a 16-year career which included a one-year stint in the China Basketball Association (CBA), Smith epitomized the role of the journeyman. He played for five different teams and joined LeBron in hoisting up the Larry O’Brien trophy on two occasions, with the Cavaliers in 2016 and the Lakers in 2020.
(Courtesy: Kim Klement/Associated Press
JR Smith was known for his depth in shooting as well as being a 6 ’10 forward that had the ability to solidly shoot from three.
After 2020, he then found himself without a team and was in a state of anxiety and depression. Basketball was all he knew and didn’t know what was next for him. But after a period of reflection that included intense therapy, Smith chartered a new course and decided to go back to school at the age of 35.
In August 2021, he enrolled at A&T to pursue a degree in liberal studies and took up golf. He qualified for the coveted Phoenix International and was named North Carolina A&T Academic Athlete of the Year with a 4.0 GPA.
(Courtesy: Getty Images)
Living proof that it is never too late to start anew.
In the lead-up to the April 4 premiere of the docuseries on Prime Video, Smith spoke with Team NBS Media in conjunction with Uninterrupted to talk about the docuseries, why he chose an HBCU, why he decided to play golf, him going to therapy, how he feels about himself today, and curiously why he has no plans on watching it himself.
(Courtesy: Getty Images)
ZD: With this new docu-series coming out that is chronicling your journey, how are you feeling about it? Are you excited about it? What does it mean for you to have Uninterrupted be able to be the one to produce this?
JR: I am really excited about it. I don’t have any plans or desires to watch it. I’m really kind of nervous but I’m really excited about Uninterrupted doing it, obviously knowing Bron and Mav for so long. It just seems like it is the right platform, obviously for what it stands for being “More Than an Athlete” and bringing our stories to light. I’m really excited about it. It seems like a long time coming, it’s been two years. I just remember the first day we started filming, we had a great crew, so it should be good.
ZD: Why do you plan on not watching it?
JR: I’m just weird like that. I don’t like the sound of my voice, I don’t like seeing myself. I used to hate watching film because I hate seeing myself on the court making a play or making a mistake. I don’t know.
ZD: Well let me just tell you that your voice sounds fantastic!
JR: Aww appreciate that!
ZD: As I was learning more about your journey from basketball to golf and also going back to school, a lot of things really struck me. First and foremost, when it comes to golf, what has the sport given you that maybe you didn’t find in basketball or that you were able to recapture from basketball?
JR: A purpose. Playing professionally for so long, I was identified as an athlete or as a basketball player, golf has taught me I am much more than that. Much more than just an athlete, more than somebody out here using athletic ability to get by. The integrity of the game for sure. There are no breaks, everything counts. A lot of the decisions we make all of them count regardless of whether it’s big, small, or indifferent. However, how you approach the next shot is what the next outcome will be. So living with whatever that swing is or wherever that ball lands and try to make the best of your next shot.
ZD: Why was it important when you decided to go back to school that you decided to go to an HBCU?
JR: For me to go back to an HBCU was really important because I wanted to show other kids like me that you don’t have to just go to the Power 5 or those big schools. Although we lack resources and obviously funding, the HBCU experience is just phenomenal. The culture is great. The professors are amazing and the students are outstanding. Being around a bunch of people that look like you in that area are all positive and are trying to achieve a higher goal. Everybody is there to help you, it’s very rare in our society nowadays. I wanted to highlight that for my kids and the generations to come.
ZD: You’ve spoken about going to therapy after the 2020 season and winning the championship with the Lakers. You said that therapy has really helped you in so many ways. Obviously with what we are seeing now with Ja Morant and other athletes that are going through some personal struggles. If you were to provide any counsel about how to treat these struggles, what would you say to them?
JR: More than anything I feel like I would tell them you need help. There is no if’s ands or buts about it because nobody can fathom the aspect of within a couple of years going from the average joe to a superstar. Coming into extreme amounts of wealth and fame. Obviously, you can not be affected in certain areas, but it will affect you regardless of whatever it is. It affects us all differently. For younger generations that look like myself, I would tell them to cut the ego and talk. Seek it. It will save your life at the end of the day. At the end of the day, talking to somebody who doesn’t want anything from you, who doesn’t really benefit from you but the betterment of you. And just the outside person to talk to.
There’s something that goes so far I would say for black men opposed to anybody because we are so strong and prideful and just not have for so long been looked at as a “punk” for talking about your issues or problems. It has gotten a lot better, but for whatever reason our younger generation of celebrities and millionaires need to come around faster, especially him because he is such a special talent. I don’t know him personally, but I heard he is a great person so I would like to give him the benefit of doubt. Nobody ever gave me that so I would give it to him.
ZD: What would your advice be to other athletes or people in general who may be thinking about a life change?
JR: For me more than anything, take the first step. Once you do that, it gets easier over time. I think so many people put everything into one. It’s like a running back trying to run 100 yards every time he catches the ball. It just doesn’t happen. A good running back averages 4 yards a carry, 5 yards a carry, if that. It’s like you gotta take it in stride. For me the biggest thing was knocking down the first barrier, applying for school, getting accepted into school, going to study hall. Gradually getting myself into it.
Folks are thinking I’m going to graduate in December, it just doesn’t happen like that. I think for a lot of us whether it’s social media or this day in age, we are so used to instant gratification and not used to the process of the work. Everybody wants to see the finished product. Being able to fall in love with what you do and falling in love with the process of what you do, it makes it that much easier. It won’t feel like work or stress.
ZD: Given everything you have been through, when you look at your life right now, how are you feeling about things?
JR: I feel like things have gotten alot better than they have in a really long time. Just how I feel about myself on a personal level. I feel like that is what we all strive to get to regardless of your occupation, just as long as you feel better about yourself. For me, I can say I am moving towards a better feeling on how I feel about myself.
ZD: Work in progress.
JR: Work in progress. I’m not there yet. I’m not a finished product, but I’m working.
