Rumors

Where J.R. Smith sees disaster, Metta World Peace sees opportunity. The two former Knicks had two very different reactions to hearing the stunning news that the team fired Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday Smith lamented the news, posting to his Instagram story saying, “I don’t know what the f–k going on … I don’t get it … Back-to-back 50-win seasons, first time since when? Bro, it’s so bad I [direct messaged] Stephen A. Smith just to ask him, ‘How much is [Thibodeau] owed? What is going on?’ C’mon man! Damn!”

New York Post

LeBron James just took a walk down memory lane! The NBA star shared a photo of his former teammates, J.R. Smith and Kevin Love, on his Instagram Stories on Thursday, May 29. “My dogs right there!!” James, 40, wrote alongside an image of Smith, 39, and Love, 36, hugging it out. The heartfelt reunion on Thursday showed the former Cleveland Cavaliers players embracing one another. In a video shared by several outlets and the NBA, the two hold onto one another as they walk along the baseline, chatting in one another’s ear while on the court at Madison Square Garden after Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.

People

Clutchpoints: Former champs Kevin Love and JR Smith hug it out on the Madison Square Garden floor after Game 5 of the Knicks and Pacers 👏

x.com

NBA Stat: JR Smith rubbing his Cavs and Lakers rings on Brunson during his interview 😂

bsky.app

HoopsHype: Pascal Siakam passed Mike Conley, Chris Webber, LaMarcus Aldridge, JR Smith and Sidney Moncrief in playoff scoring tonight. He's No. 129 all-time now.

bsky.app

CARMELO ANTHONY: "Kyrie is one of the most skilled players in the history of basketball. He's like the basketball genius—the maestro when it comes to the game. Is he your most gifted teammate that you've played with?" JR SMITH: "It's weird having you ask me this question... I think he's the most gifted offensive player I've played with." CARMELO ANTHONY: "You say gifted—are we just talking about basketball?" JR SMITH: "Yeah, just basketball. What he brings to the game—his style of play, his size, his stature. What he's able to do with the basketball—the way he gets to his spots, the way he posts up bigs—that’s a skill set."

YouTube

JR SMITH: It’s the best of the best that can’t do what Kyrie can do. We talk about getting to your spot a lot—every spot is his spot. He went to school, man." CARMELO ANHONY: "He went to the school?" JR SMITH: "Yeah, that mid-range school, footwork school, killer mentality school. We’ve been in environments together. His attention to detail—he’s relentless about mastering a spot. He’ll say, 'This is all I’m working on today. Don’t come work out with me unless you want to do this for three hours.'"

YouTube

JR Smith when Knicks traded him to Cleveland: I ain't going to lie, bro. I cried. I was in Memphis. We were in Memphis. I was working out. We were getting ready for the game and I came back in the locker room and Steve Mills pulled me aside. He's like, ‘Yeah, man. We just traded you and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland.’ And I was just like, ‘Damn, where like, you know, I ain't want to say nothing of him or whatever.’ Because I already had my feelings about him and the situation that we were already in with the new group, new regime, whatever at that time.

YouTube

JR Smith: Shumpert still like ‘damn Joe. They ain't believe in this joe’. I'm like ‘sh*t if you don't pipe that sh*t down, bro. We about to win the chip. You tripping, man. You don't knock that sh*t off, man. We were just damn near last place. We just went to damn near first. We going to the chip for sure’ You see our team?’ He's like, ‘Nah, Joe, man. F*ck that sh*t. Two weeks later, we get everybody came back healthy. LeBron James was healthy, Kyrie Irving was healthy, Kevin Love was healthy. We start blowing teams out and he looked at me like, ‘Yo, bro, I was tripping.’

YouTube

JR Smith being recruited when he was playing in China: God rest his soul, Kobe Bryant texted me. He's like, ‘Yo, man. Like, I need you. What's up, man? I need an alpha. I need an alpha.’ I'm like, ‘Oh, shit.’ Kobe started texting me and I'm like, ‘Oh, sh*t I might go to the Lakers! So at the time I'm with Leon Rose and him. So Chris Paul, we all got the same joint, me, him, CP, everybody. So, CP started hitting me. He's like, ‘Yo, bro, like you need to come to the Clippers, we need to figure this out.’ I'm like, ‘Sh*t.’ I didn't even think the Knicks was the option. Then Carmelo Anthony called me and he was like, ‘How you doing over there in China? I see you do this, that. What you going what you got going on after this?’ I was like, ‘Yo, I think I'm about to go to the Clippers or the Lakes, man. I talked to CP and Kobe. He's like, ‘”Damn, dog! You going to do me like that?!’ I was like, ‘What you mean?’” He's like, ‘You ain't coming to New York with me?’ And then I'm like, ‘All right, man. I'll be there Monday.’ . (Laughs). That's it.

YouTube

According to the official description, Memes & Nightmares “reveals how social media has forever transformed the way the NBA is experienced and celebrated. Whether you’re a die-hard NBA fan, a lover of memes, or someone who thrives on the chaos and creativity of the internet, this film offers a unique look at the intersection of sports and digital culture.” Memes & Nightmares is guided by Josiah Johnson (aka King Josiah) and Jamel Johnson (no relation) and also features J.R. Smith, Flavor Flav, Jalen Rose, Metta World Peace, Gilbert Arenas, Matt Barnes, Jemele Hill, Darius Miles, The Kid Mero, and Ros Gold.

VIBE

Chandler Parsons: "Golfing is the closest thing to the locker room—the camaraderie, the gambling, the [expletive] talking. As athletes, it's something you can't ever perfect. You're always working at it. Every retired athlete should play golf. (…) It's the best networking and marketing. If you're available to play at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday, you did something right in life."

YouTube

Brendan Haywood: My favorite Bron moment? The shot he hit in Chicago. All my career, I heard people say, "He can’t hit a game-winner. He’s scared of the moment." We’re down two. David Blatt draws up the game-winner for J.R. Smith. Bron grabs the clipboard, erases the play, and draws his own. He says, "Deli, take it out. I’m going to fake this way, pop to the corner, and hit the three." He fakes out Jimmy Butler, pops to the corner, hits the three, and wins the game. I’ve never seen anyone draw up their own game-winner like that. That’s elite.

YouTube

JR Smith: Bro, they literally just killed Ant 🐜 momentum with that trade. Ahmed/The Ears/IG: The season started tonight my brother. JR Smith: That’s obvious… just like spacing and needing the ball. No knock to Randle cause he’s really good but his game doesn’t fit with Ant and the dynamic of what got them going last season. I watch from a player perspective you watch as a fan. It’s a little confusing but it’s a difference.

x.com