JR Smith made a 16-year NBA career out of embarrassing defenders, bucket after bucket. He even won two championships in the twilight of his time on the court, first with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and then four years later in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
After retiring from basketball the 35-year-old decided to enroll at North Carolina A&T and walk on as a freshman. He made his collegiate debut at the Elon Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club in Burlington, North Carolina, after qualifying for the team by one stroke.
Check out the best photos of Smith’s time as a college golfer.
JR Smith
Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies tees off to begin his…
Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies tees off to begin his first competitive round of collegiate golf at the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
JR Smith
J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies checks his course book during the Phoenix Invitational…
J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies checks his course book during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
JR Smith
A detailed photo of the small Nike shoe used as a putter cover by former NBA…
A detailed photo of the small Nike shoe used as a putter cover by former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Caroina A&T Aggies during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
JR Smith
J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies reacts as his putt slides past the hole…
J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies reacts as his putt slides past the hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
JR Smith
Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies warms up with his fellow…
Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies warms up with his fellow competitors before the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
JR Smith
Former NBA player J.R. Smith gets a word of encouragement from head coach Richard Watkins of…
Former NBA player J.R. Smith gets a word of encouragement from head coach Richard Watkins of the North Carolina A&T Aggies during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
JR Smith
J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies watches his shot during the Phoenix Invitational at…
J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies watches his shot during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
JR Smith
Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies hits a tee shot on…
Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies hits a tee shot on the 6th hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
JR Smith
Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies marks his ball before the…
Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies marks his ball before the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
JR Smith
J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies and Joey Morganti of the Temple Owls drive…
J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies and Joey Morganti of the Temple Owls drive to the next hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
JR Smith
Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Miles Albright of the Gardner-Webb…
Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Miles Albright of the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, Pedro Rabadan of the Elon Phoenix and Joey Morganti of the Temple Owls wait to tee off to begin the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775722383 ORIG FILE ID: 1346025445
JR Smith
Fans and media follow J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies as he walks to…
Fans and media follow J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies as he walks to the 13th hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
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