JR Smith can finally add one more thing to his curricula vitae: NBA Champion. Smith is often on the butt end of jokes (like this one) for his shenanigans on and off the court. But last night, after winning a championship with Lebron and company, Smith was all emotion. While speaking to the press, Smith talked at length about his mom and dad, fighting back real tears of joy. No questions, just letting his heart completely on his sleeve. It’s a very real human moment for the 30-year-old baller on Father’s Day.
It hits right in the feels. Nothing like a reminder from JR Smith to be grateful for your parents.
Because it’s just a powerful when you read it, here’s a transcript from the folks at SB Nation.
I mean, my parents, my family — that’s the biggest inspiration in my life. I’ve been in a lot of dark spots in my life, and if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to get out of them. But they are who they are. They followed me. They yelled at me, they screamed at me. They loved me. They hugged me. They cried with me. They always stuck by my side, no matter right or wrong. And I know a lot of people don’t have their parents in their life — their mother or their father — but, I got the best two. You guys were, I swear. There’s six of us and they didn’t treat any of us different. They loved us the same. They treated us all the same, and I just want to be like them when I grow up. My dad is easily my biggest inspiration to play this game. To hear people talk bad about me, it hurts me, because I know it hurts him, and that’s not who I am. And I know he raised better, and I know I want to do better. Everything I do is for my parents and my family. The cars is nice, the houses is nice, but none of this matters without them. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here. I don’t know where I would be. Honestly, if it wasn’t for them — if it wasn’t for the structure and the backbone that I have — I wouldn’t be able to mess up and keep coming back and being able to sit in front of you as a world champion.
Congrats on such a momentous life milestone, JR.