Nina Caldwell
After a 16-year career in the NBA, JR Smith has traded in his basketball for a set of golf clubs. The former NBA star, who is now 38, has taken up golf and is playing for the Aggies golf team at North Carolina A&T State University. Smith's journey into golf began when his friend and fellow NBA player Rashard Lewis invited him to a golf outing for charity in the mid-2000s. Smith has said that he became addicted to the game immediately. In his first college golf competition, Smith shot 81.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Earl Joseph "J. R." Smith III |
| Date of Birth | September 9, 1985 |
| Profession | American collegiate Golf player and former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) |
| Height | 6-foot-6 |
| Age | 38 years |
| First College Competition Score | 81 |
| Previous Profession | NBA Player |
| Years in NBA | 16 years |
| Last NBA Game | 2020 |
| Current University | North Carolina A&T State University |
| Academic Achievements | Academic Athlete of the Year, 4.0 GPA |
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What You'll Learn
JR Smith's transition from the NBA to golf
Earl Joseph "J. R." Smith III is a former professional basketball player in the NBA who played for teams like the New Orleans Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers. He won two NBA championships, with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. However, in 2020, Smith's basketball career came to an abrupt end, leaving him bored and confused.
Smith's transition from the NBA to golf began when he picked up the sport 14 years ago at a fundraiser while he was with the Nuggets. In the mid-2000s, Smith was invited by his friend and fellow NBA player, Rashard Lewis, to a golf outing for Lewis' charity. Smith went to show his support, joking around and talking about the other players' swings. It was here that the future Hall of Famer, Moses Malone, called Smith over to hit a ball. Smith recalls hitting a perfect drive and thinking that golf was easy. However, he quickly realized that golf was a challenging sport that demanded his full attention.
In 2021, Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University, where he joined their Aggies golf team and pursued a degree in liberal studies. He qualified to play in the Phoenix Invitational, hosted by Elon University, on October 11 and 12, 2021. Smith qualified for the tournament by one stroke, shooting rounds of 83 and 78 (12 and 7 over par, respectively) on the first day. He was also named the North Carolina A&T Academic Athlete of the Year for 2021-2022 with a 4.0 GPA.
Smith's journey from the NBA to golf is documented in the 2023 docuseries "Redefined: J. R. Smith," where he talks about his time in the NBA, the misconceptions about him, and his new chapter as a student-athlete and co-host of the golf podcast, "Par 3."
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Smith's misconceptions about golf
Smiths misconceptions about golf
JR Smith, the former NBA player, has been open about his journey with golf and the misconceptions people have about him. In an interview, Smith revealed that he still feels people have a misconception of who he is, even when he is on the golf course. He feels that people expect him to act a certain way, rather than just seeing him as a regular person playing golf. This perception of him has followed him throughout his 16 years in the NBA and continues even in his new passion for golf.
Smith picked up golf 14 years ago while he was with the Nuggets and has since become a student-athlete and the co-host of a golf podcast, "Par 3." Despite his new endeavours, he still deals with misconceptions about his personality. People often expect him to be arrogant and self-absorbed, but he acknowledges the presence of others and doesn't consider himself to be the centre of attention.
Smith also has a different perspective on golf compared to basketball. He finds golf to be more individual-focused, where one has to take accountability for every shot. This is in contrast to basketball, where it is easier to shift blame onto others for missed shots. Golf, for Smith, is a mix of challenge and relaxation, pushing one mentally and physically while also providing a calming experience in the company of friends.
The media also played a role in shaping the public's perception of Smith during his time in the NBA. While playing for the Knicks, the media's influence led to the firing of their successful coach based on someone's comments. This political aspect of the NBA contributed to the misconceptions about Smith's character. Despite his achievements, including winning two championships and a Sixth Man of the Year award, the jokes about him continued.
Smith's journey into golf has given him a fresh start and a new perspective on life. It has provided him with a sense of accountability and competitiveness while also offering a relaxing escape from the intense world of professional basketball.
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Smith's first experience with golf
Smith's basketball career came to an abrupt end in 2020, and he found himself bored and confused about his next steps. He decided to enrol at North Carolina A&T State University, where he joined their Aggies golf team. He was named Academic Athlete of the Year in his first year, and finished with a 4.0 GPA.
Smith has spoken about the misconceptions people have about him, and how these have followed him from his time in the NBA onto the golf course. He has said that people expect him to act a certain way, and that they have preconceived ideas about his arrogance and self-absorption. However, he has also received support for his move into golf, with people recognising that he has a good heart and has made mistakes in the past.
Smith's first college competition as a golfer saw him shoot 81. Despite this being a high score, it is still impressive given that he was playing against people half his age who had been playing golf since they were children.
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Smith's performance in his first college golf competition
After a 16-year career in the NBA, J.R. Smith took up golf, enrolling at North Carolina A&T State University and joining their Aggies golf team. In his first college golf competition, Smith shot 81.
Smith's journey into golf began when his friend and fellow NBA player Rashard Lewis invited him to a golf outing for his charity in the mid-2000s. Smith was immediately hooked, and golf became a new passion. He joined the golf team at an HBCU, North Carolina A&T, where he was named Academic Athlete of the Year and achieved a 4.0 GPA.
Smith's transition to golf was not without its challenges. He had to adapt to the unpredictable nature of the sport, where performance could vary from one day to the next. Despite his initial struggles, he remained dedicated to the sport, and his hard work paid off.
Smith's journey into college golf showcases his perseverance and adaptability. Despite the misconceptions and expectations that followed him from his NBA days, he remained focused on his new passion, working to improve his skills and excelling in his academic pursuits.
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Smith's golf podcast, 'Par 3'
Welcome to another episode of 'Smith's Golf Podcast, Par 3'! Today, we have a very special guest, former NBA player and now collegiate golf player, J.R. Smith. Smith, a 6-foot-6, 38-year-old, is currently playing on the men's golf team at North Carolina A&T State University, where he was named Academic Athlete of the Year and achieved a 4.0 GPA.
Smith, who had a successful 16-year career in the NBA, playing for teams like the New Orleans Hornets, Denver Nuggets, and Cleveland Cavaliers, first picked up golf 14 years ago at a fundraiser while he was with the Nuggets. He describes his journey into golf as an addiction, saying that he couldn't stop thinking about the game after his first taste of it.
However, the transition from professional basketball player to collegiate golfer hasn't been without its challenges. Smith talks about dealing with misconceptions and narratives that followed him throughout his time in the NBA. He feels that people still expect him to act a certain way, even on the golf course. Despite this, Smith is dedicated to his new sport, saying that golf demands a different kind of routine and mindset compared to basketball.
In his first college competition, Smith shot an 81, showing that he is a competitive golfer, even against players half his age who have been playing golf their entire lives. Smith's journey is a testament to the power of discovering new passions and pursuing them with dedication and humility.
Stay tuned for more episodes of 'Par 3', where we delve into the world of golf, hear inspiring stories, and learn from athletes like J.R. Smith who have blazed their own trails.
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Frequently asked questions
81.
He took up golf and enrolled at North Carolina A&T, where he joined their Aggies golf team.
The New Orleans Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers.
He first picked up golf 14 years ago at a fundraiser for the Nuggets.
6-foot-6.
