“We’d rather throw $60,000 in the strip club!” LeBron James’ ex-teammate with $100 million earnings regrets not uplifting neighborhoods

JR Smith won the 2013 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, and had a successful NBA career.

“We’d rather throw $60,000 in the strip club!” LeBron James’ ex-teammate with $100 million earnings regrets not uplifting neighborhoods

LeBron James and JR Smith (Image via Yahoo Finance)

Before embarking on their initial two years in the NBA, every player must participate in the ‘Rookie Transition Program,’ a four-day orientation designed to enlighten upcoming NBA stars about the league’s internal rules, state laws, interactions with franchise and non-franchise personnel, financial investments, and more. Despite receiving this guidance, some choose not to follow it.

Earl Joseph “JR” Smith III, the former Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers player and teammate to LeBron James, belongs to the latter category. Throughout his 16 seasons in the NBA, the retired player amassed a staggering $100 million. Of course, he was also involved in a hilarious moment during the 2018 NBA Finals. Now, at the age of 38, he laments wasting a substantial portion of his fortune and, more significantly, not utilizing it to aid others.

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Speaking on “THE I AM ATHLETE PODCAST”, he said:

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We'd rather go throw $60,000 in the strip club than go feed 2,500 people in the hood. "I could've fed my whole community ten times over with the money I was just [paying fines for] being late on the bus. I was so wrapped into me, I got that Euro-centric mindset: I need this designer jacket, I need these jeans, I need this bookbag, I need to be looking like this because the vets got this, I'm pushing this car.

He continued:

Why? Who am I impressing? I'm not even fulfilled with me. They look up to me, so when they think 'Oh, this is cool, this is what they say he did,' they think that shit is cool. Look at what we're going for: strip clubs, getting high, setting people up, killing people. Look at what we glorify. And they put millions and millions of dollars into this. Record labels put billions of dollars into this and it sells. And we still get raped off of entertainment.

Having engaged in 977 NBA games, Smith showcased his skills while donning the jerseys of the New Orleans Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout his career, he maintained an average of 12.4 points per game and an impressive three-point shooting percentage of 37.3 percent.

JR Smith finds solace in golf after basketball rejection

Retirement doesn’t signal the end for professional athletes. Instead, it can mark the beginning of something entirely new. J.R. Smith is a familiar name to basketball fans for his fearless approach to challenging shots during his NBA tenure, where he won 2 NBA Championships and secured the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2013.

JR Smith
Former NBA player turned golfer, JR Smith (via PGA Tour)

However, 16 years later, he caught everyone off guard by announcing his decision to return to school for educational pursuits at North Carolina A&T. To top it off, he expressed his aspiration to compete on the university’s golf team.

Detailing his foray into golf, Smith shared his journey on the latest edition of The Scoop with GOLF’s Claire Rogers. The adventure commenced when his friend and fellow NBA player, Rashard Lewis, extended an invitation to Smith for a golf outing, organized for Lewis’ charity, in the mid-2000s.

I came out to just show support just because we worked out together, stuff like that. I go out, just riding around like just messing around, joking on guys. Talking about their swings and whatnot. Then Moses Malone, the Hall of Famer, he was like, ‘Young fella come hit this ball.' I went out there, hit the ball and hit literally a perfect drive. And I was like, ‘There’s nothing to it.’ Like golf, you don’t have to be an athlete. Essentially.

His story unveils a vulnerability and humility that, in turn, serves as an inspiration to others navigating life changes. In response, Smith has garnered valuable tips and encouragement from a diverse spectrum.

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