J.R. Smith , for many, will be remembered as one of the greatest sixth men in the history of the NBA, a two-time champ, and well, as eccentric as they come. However, even though all of that is an undeniable fact, Smith began another career journey after retiring from professional basketball.
After winning his second ring with the Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA Bubble, Smith decided to take his talents and, well, go back to college. He enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University, but apart from pursuing his degree, it seemed like J.R. found a new passion in golf, eventually playing for the university's varsity squad.
It's no secret how many NBA players, even while still active, try their hand at "shooting 36 holes." It serves as a nice hobby to relax, work on mental skills, and, quite honestly, get away from the daily grind. One of those players was Michael Jordan . And given all the stories we've heard over the years about the Chicago Bulls legend and his competitive nature, Smith got to witness it firsthand.
Since Smith was in North Carolina at the time, it was only a matter of time before he would stumble upon a man many considered the basketball GOAT on the golf course. And when he finally did meet MJ, J.R. felt like a little kid watching his idol once again.
"It was one of the most childish feelings I felt as a grown-a** man," Smith said via Complex. "That's Mike, bro. I couldn't stop looking at him like, 'Yo, he got the Jordans.'"
Of course, Jordan wouldn't be Jordan if he didn't pull out the ol' reliable trash talk, with a little bit of a side bet thrown in. You know, to make things just a bit more interesting. That fire from the six-time champ never went out, not even on the golf course. Safe to say, Smith wasn't spared on any front.
"He smoked me," the retired wing added. "He threw this jab at me low-key. So we were betting right, and I doubled down on one of my bets. He said, 'Alright, what's the game?' I'm like, 'We gon' play a Nassau.' I said, 'Whoa, $100, not $1000.' He said, 'I know what you meant… You had a good career, not a great career. What do you want me to say?' It was great for me."
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While getting a proper lesson from Mike on the golf course deep into his retirement was an experience of a lifetime, it's worth noting that Smith's decision to finish his formal education is nothing short of remarkable. A guy who earned more than $90M during his 16-year NBA career could have easily been set up for life. However, Smith decided to take a different path, and he succeeded greatly.
The most notable achievement was when the former high-level role player nabbed a 4.0 GPA in his first year of university. And for an ex-NBA player, to have that kind of dedication to chase formal education after their successful career on the hardwood is worthy of praise. Smith could have easily chosen to enjoy the fruits of his labour wherever he pleased, but chasing a diploma ultimately proved to be the right choice.
From lessons learned under Jordan's competitive fire to the discipline he applied in the classroom, Smith's post-basketball journey shows that literally anything is possible with dedication. And, a little bit of luck.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
