JR Smith opens up on 16 years NBA career, winning with LeBron, the Finals mistake that changed everything, Knicks, playing depressed, time in jail, heartache, Mental Health, golf and finding purpose beyond basketball
6/16/20261 hr 4 min
“16 years in the NBA and 70% of my career, I played depressed. “-JR Smith In this episode of The Pivot Podcast, former NBA champion and basketball icon JR Smith sits down for one of his most candid conversations yet. From his rise as a high school phenom to a 16-year NBA career, JR reflects on the highs, lows, and lessons that shaped his journey. He opens up about playing on the biggest stage alongside LeBron James, competing in multiple NBA Finals, and what it meant to win an NBA Championship. Beyond the highlights and headlines, JR shares the personal battles he faced with mental health, the pressure of fame, and navigating life under constant public scrutiny. JR also revisits one of the most questionable and talked about moments of his career—the infamous NBA Finals play that became a defining headline of his legacy—sharing what was going through his mind, how he handled the backlash, and the lessons he learned from a mistake that nearly altered basketball history. JR also discusses some of the darkest moments of his life, including time spent in jail, the devastating loss of a close friend, and how those experiences changed his perspective forever. He speaks honestly about fatherhood, the challenges and rewards of parenting, and the responsibility of being a role model for his family. Now in a new chapter of life, JR reflects on personal growth, finding purpose beyond basketball, and the mindset that continues to drive him forward. This is a raw, honest, and inspiring conversation about resilience, redemption, and discovering who you are when the game is no longer the center of your world. Don't miss this powerful episode of The Pivot with JR Smith.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
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Ryan Clark· Host0:28
J.R. Smith's story has never fit neatly into a box. From being a teenage phenom drafted straight out of high school by the Hornets, to becoming one of the NBA's most electrifying players. J.R. lived a career filled with unforgettable highs, painful lows, and lessons that came at a cost. Today we sit down with the man who was often misunderstood. A champion, teammate, brother, father. A man who has openly discussed living with ADHD and dyslexia while navigating a league that celebrated his talent, but often overlooked his struggles. We talk about the New York Knicks playoff run and what that city still means to him. We revisit the 2018 NBA Finals and the game one moment that's followed him for years. Obviously, we discuss his relationship with LeBron James, winning an NBA championship in Cleveland, and the pressure that comes with playing on the biggest stage in sports. J.R. opens up about losing a close friend and carrying the weight of the responsibility that followed. He shares why he felt the NBA didn't always care about the depression he battled behind the scenes,