Away from the courts – and that’s probably better for everyone – JR Smith is having a blast in his new life. Last December, he was congratulated for obtaining their first university semester. Four months later, Professor LeBron’s favorite assistant wins the title of academic athlete of the year. Hats off to the artist.
The oldest may remember, JR Smith skipped the NCAA box – and therefore the university – to register for the 2004 Draft. It’s never too late to make up for lost time and fill a gap which are considered essential to their personal development. Many don’t know it – apart from those who watched Game 1 of the 2018 Finals – but Gérard suffers from an attention disorder. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder are inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. It is therefore not easy at 36 to mix family life and studies, while managing oneself. By entering North Carolina A&T University last August, JR Smith managed to join the college golf team with one stone. He thus participated at his first tournaments as a student, and got his first semester with a GPA of 4.0! For those unfamiliar with this grading system, a GPA of 4.0 equates to an A in most subjects. Some disciplines push the GPA as high as 5.0, but that’s rare. Four months after successfully completing his first semester, JR Smith finally validates his year with – once again – a GPA of 4.0. He was even elected Academic Athlete of the Year by his university. “Oh that’s great! What a foot! Oh what a foot! Oh damn, oh la la la la la! ».
“I couldn’t even describe how I feel right now, I’m not going to lie. I worked extremely hard to get there. My god, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and sometimes more. Homework when you’re not used to that kind of stuff […]
It’s even more special when you don’t think you can succeed. I heard about my disabilities, that they were going to play out, that they were going to prevent me from thinking, calculating and expressing things the way I wanted. And despite everything, I was able to pull it off, and I’m not going to lie to you, it makes me really happy. – JR Smith, on his Instagram account
North Carolina A&T’s Academic Athlete of the Year, with a 4.0 GPA:
JR Smith, Men’s Golf ????
(????: @ Turkin35) pic.twitter.com/wPyIb9zNkm
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 26, 2022
For the little anecdote, JR Smith has become the first-ever male golfer to sign a brand ambassador contract with Lululemon, a Canadian company specializing in sportswear. By dint of hard work, everything succeeds. The 2016 champion didn’t need to rebuild his reputation, but rather to take a step back from his NBA career. His final freelance at the Lakers – six games long – ended a last toxic dance, with Gérard perceived more as “LeBron’s ball”. He was not told the jubilee of Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade – the charm of his career resting on the improbable – but a complete, stable season, within a workforce which recognizes his achievements as Sixth man of the season 2012-13, would have been more appropriate. So yes, he is titled for the second time in his career – and even plays nine minutes in the Finals against the Heat – but it is not unlikely that in his eyes, his GPA of 4.0 counts more than this ring with the Lakers. This one, he got it all alone, as a boss.
Let me know if you still want to play College Football we still got time!!!! #ItsNeverToLate https://t.co/FZj03BW3mL
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) April 26, 2022
From Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the entire Twittersphere slipped into mentions of JR Smith congratulating him. On our side, we will remove the t-shirt and wait until the end of August to put it back on. The best of tributes for the best of humans.
