LOS ANGELES – Outside the NBA for more than a year and a half, the most recent member of the Los Angeles Lakers, JR Smith, described in detail the mental balance that the time that had elapsed since the game had had on him.
“I have been in a very depressed state for a long time,” Smith told reporters during a video conference on Monday. “And it lasted for a few months, where I didn’t – I’m a great video game player, I haven’t even played 2K anymore. I don’t want to go in a circle, I don’t want to train, I don’t want to play 2K, I don’t want to do anything with basketball. “
Making his first public comments after signing with the Lakers last week to replace starting guard Avery Bradley, who opted for the rest of the season mainly due to family concerns, Smith said he will not take this opportunity for granted. Although other substitute players throughout the league join teams with some sort of language in their contract for next season, he focuses only on the immediate role he is asked for.
“I’ve been away for a while, and for being someone who has been around for most of their adult life, when this is a little taken away from you, it gives you that kind of cultural shock and obviously you don’t understand that that you lost until he disappeared, “said Smith, who separated from the Cleveland Cavaliers in difficult conditions in November 2018.” So for me more than anything else, I just want to appreciate the moment for what it is and if it will be next year or never, I just want to enjoy every possible moment I get. “
Smith certainly had his moments in Cleveland. He helped bring the Cavs to their first and only league in franchise history, heating up in the third quarter of the 2016 NBA Finals Game 7 to allow Cleveland to keep up with a record-breaking Golden State Warriors team. He also helped the Cavs to skip a shocked occasion in Game 1 of the 2018 finals by forgetting the late score in the rules before Cleveland eventually lost in overtime.
The latter unleashed a meme that still makes its rounds on the Internet, showing a puzzled LeBron James holding his arms out in frustration, directing his disgust at Smith for the mistake.
Smith said that having lived high-level experiences like those with James – they have reached four finals in four years as teammates together – is a value that will lead to the team, beyond the shooting ability for which it is known.
“In the first person, I know how Bron can get pissed, and there are people who won’t know how to deal with it,” said Smith. “So it gives that gap of understanding, it’s still about winning.”
Smith referred to the ESPN docuserie The Last Dance, which caused some viewers to criticize Michael Jordan’s sometimes harsh interactions with his teammates on the Chicago Bulls.
James, Smith said, has a similar will to win.
“Sometimes it turns out the wrong way,” said James of Smith. “And you need that bridge as a player to be able to move on to the next player and be like, ‘Listen buddy, it’s nothing personal, [don’t get caught up in] who was right, who was wrong. “
“It’s just a good balance, I think, between me and him, because he knows very well that he can challenge anyone, I will challenge him and vice versa.”
Smith, 34, has known 35-year-old James since they were both in high school. He can interpret the behavior of the four times MVP for a better season than most.
“When you get a person at that level, it’s a little intimidating for many people who don’t know how to challenge authority,” said Smith. “But it’s something I’ve never had a problem with. So talk to him, get [into] things like that, having difficult conversations with our teammates, I think it’s the biggest thing. Because it’s the only way we grow as men and as a team. “
Career shooter of 37.3% from 3 in 15 seasons with New Orleans, Denver, New York and Cleveland, Smith offers the Lakers coach Frank Vogel another new scoring option on his bench, together with Dion Waiters who is been added to the squad before the coronavirus stopped, but he still has to play a Laker uniform.
“It is clear that he has done an extraordinary job of keeping fit and staying ready,” said Vogel. “And I think this is a really good story. When you look at a guy who could potentially be out of the league and a couple of years ago he was a starter in a Finali team, a champion, for him to have perseverance to be ready and give yourself this opportunity, I think it should be commended.
“Watching him train, hey, his nickname is ‘Swish’ for a reason, right? He is a very successful shooter, a shooter. Like I said, he seems to be in excellent physical condition. And as I always said, I think it will really help us. “
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