UPDATED 12/29, 5:00 p.m. ET: J.R. Smith has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
See original story below.
J.R. Smith is making his return to the NBA.
League sources tell the New York Time’s Marc Stein that the Lakers are finalizing a “rest-of-the-season” contract with Smith that should be finished before the NBA’s “transaction window” closes at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.
Smith’s name has been tossed by those associated with the organization since Avery Bradley revealed that he wouldn’t be making the trip to Orlando.
Although the NBA has created a bubble with regulations focused on player’s health and safety, Bradley’s eldest son has a history of respiratory problems and he feels like exposing himself to the virus could jeopardize his child.
J.R. Smith hasn’t played professional basketball since November 2019. But, he did play with Lakers superstar, LeBron James, in Cleveland for three years. Together, they won a championship in 2016 and became a reliable teammate—despite what happened during Game 1 of the 2018 Finals. This in addition to being a fan favorite, has NBA lovers taking to Twitter to react to the news.
Related Stories
J.R. Smith Trashes Paparazzo for Pestering Him With LeBron Questions
J.R. Smith was in no mood to answer a paparazzo's questions about LeBron James' future.
J.R. Smith Compares Himself to a Dolphin
J.R. Smith compares himself to a dolphin in a new profile in ‘The New Yorker.’
J.R. Smith Is Selling "JR for President" T-Shirts Right Now
What better way to support J.R. Smith as the next president than with the official "J.R. Smith" for President shirt?
