LeBron’s passes made J.R. look like a borderline All-Star.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, during LeBron James’ second stint, had no shortage of talent. James brought Kevin Love with him from Minnesota, and Kyrie Irving blossomed into the NBA’s most fun-to-watch talent. Even with a pair of All-Stars by his side, James made a bid for J.R. Smith’s All-Star case.
Smith was an established player in the league, known most for his 3-point shooting and off-balance shots. Though he never was an All-Star, his talent showed that he at least deserved recognition.
“He’s never been invited,” James said during 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I think I might need to start making that petition. Us being the No. 1 team in the East, him shooting the ball the way he’s been shooting it, we need to try to get as many guys to All-Star as possible. Guys know in the league he’s an unbelievable 3-point shooter, and he deserves an invite.”
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Smith and James were together for nearly four seasons in Cleveland, with J.R. being the direct beneficiary of numerous bullet passes from Bron to the 3-point line. The Cavs boasted a positive net rating when the two were on the court together in three out of four regular seasons. While The King was the brute coming downhill, his partner was always ready to chip in at least five 3-pointers in most games. The two made an underrated duo.
Why LeBron wanted Cleveland to trade for him
Smith was traded from the New York Knicks in 2015, helping Cleveland finish the regular season with a 34-13 record. During their Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, Swish contributed 18.0 points on 47.1 percent from the 3-point line.
Having played against J.R. when he was still in New York, James took note of his ability to create his own shot and spot up at the 3-point line. No.23 was always at his best surrounded by shooters. With the former Knicks being a relatively low-cost option, the trade was a no-brainer for Bron, and that’s why he helped push the deal through before the buzzer of the trade deadline.
J.R.’s role in Cleveland’s historic championship
Smith came alive in the 2016 NBA Finals, becoming the third-leading scorer behind James and Irving. His defense was incredibly valuable, making him a consistent two-way contributor for the team. The biggest moment of Smith’s career isn’t something you’ll ever see on any stat sheet. With James in pursuit, the guard was the only man between the basket and two Warriors.
Trying to decide between Andre Iguodala and Steph Curry, J.R. alternated his attention as James was on the Warriors’ tail. With Iguodala trying to launch into the air, Swish’s presence was enough to delay the action just a bit, leading to one of the most iconic moments in NBA history. Had the Cavs guard played in any different, Golden State might’ve had an easy basket, and the fans wouldn’t have witnessed the incredible block that sealed the deal for Bron and the squad.
