The life of an NBA player, or any professional athlete for that matter, is something many consider a dream job. Being physically active while playing the sport that you love, and at the same time getting paid amounts of money most people can only dream of, along with all the fame that comes with it, makes it seem like there is no negative side to it.
However, just like what we would call regular folk, professional athletes experience everyday problems that most of us have encountered at one point or another.
And in today's era, where everybody gets a platform to speak openly about those kinds of issues, J.R. Smith recently opened up about his own battle with the not-so-sunny side of being a retired NBA star.
From the outside looking in, many people would swap places with someone like Smith in a matter of seconds. Countless iconic and not-so-iconic moments, two NBA championships, and, of course, millions earned throughout a 16-year tenure in the best basketball league in the world. But for J.R., there is so much more than meets the eye.
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There are still everyday struggles that money simply cannot buy away. Family issues, health concerns, and everything in between. According to Smith, people often assume that because someone made it to the highest level and achieved financial success, everything else automatically falls into place, but that is rarely the case.
"It seems like it, but I don't get to spend the time I want with my kids. I don't get to live the life that I wanna live or I feel like I should live, where I'm at in this stage of my life. I don't have the perfect relationship at home. I don't have a lot of things that people assume that I got," Smith opened up in the recent episode of "The Pivot Podcast."
Apart from that, Smith revealed that ever since he was 18 years old, he has been the top person in his family, the guy everybody relies on and the one expected to put bread on the table. Sometimes, carrying that responsibility for years can become overwhelming.
"People make it seem like it's easy to walk around every day and be J.R. Smith, cuz it seems like a ball. Like you just having fun all the time. Like, what the f— do you want?" "Swoosh" added.
People often think about all the moments where they saw J.R. shirtless, celebrating with a bottle of Hennessy in hand and seemingly having the time of his life. Those images became part of his public identity and, in many ways, how fans remember him. But even though it may sound like a classic cliche, life is not always like that.
Sure, Smith would probably admit he has more than most people. But that doesn't automatically mean everything is perfect, especially once an iconic playing career comes to an end and a completely different chapter begins.
Smith is just one of many former and current players who have spoken openly about off-the-court struggles that the public rarely gets to see. And that is the whole point.
Beneath all the highlights, championships, money and fame, professional athletes are still regular people dealing with many of the same challenges everyone else faces.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
