Former NBA star-turned-collegiate golfer JR Smith earns academic honor with 4.0 GPA

The story of JR Smith’s transition from NBA player to NCAA golfer just got even better.

Smith, a two-time NBA champion and former Sixth Man of the Year winner, started as a full-time student at North Carolina A&T University last year after he retired from the NBA. On top of being a freshman walk-on with the Aggies’ golf team, Smith didn’t just do well enough in the classroom to compete. He had a 4.0 GPA for the entire year and was named North Carolina A&T’s Academic Athlete of the Year. 

“I can’t even describe the feeling, I am not even going to lie to you,” Smith said in a video. “A lot of hard work went into that. Monday through Friday eight to eleven, sometimes longer, straight schoolwork.”

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

Smith, an excellent 3-point shooter since he started his time in the NBA at 19 years old, played for the Hornets, Nuggets, Knicks, Cavaliers and Lakers during his 16-year career. He won championships as a part of LeBron James’ 2016 Cavaliers team and James’ 2020 Lakers squad. 

Smith didn’t attend college out of high school, instead declaring for the 2004 NBA Draft and being selected 18th overall by the New Orleans Hornets. 

He made $90 million in his NBA career, but he still wanted to get a college degree after he retired in 2020. Smith was originally committed to play at the University of North Carolina, but he chose last year to enroll at North Carolina A&T, an HBCU, to get a liberal studies degree. 

However, he is profiting from his time as a golfer for the Aggies. Two weeks ago, Smith, 36, signed a name, imagine and likeness deal with clothing brand Lululemon. He is the first male golfer to sign an endorsement deal with Lululemon.