Although Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith is used to playing behind big stars, he certainly has held his own against the league’s finest players.
On a recent episode of “Knuckleheads” with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles, Smith revealed that he’s beaten several All-Stars 1-on-1:
“I beat Melo (Carmelo Anthony) 1-on-1, Chauncey (Chauncey Billups), I used to beat C.P. (Chris Paul) because he was just too small.”
Yet, perhaps the most skilled player Smith has beaten is Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving. While Irving likely has all the tricks in his bag, Smith studied and topped the former Cavs star:
“I beat Kyrie. Kyrie good, but it’s a certain way you gotta play Kyrie. After playing with him and seeing him play other people 1-on-1, I studied him.”
Smith, 33, is still away from the team due to a lack of competitiveness and communication with the front office. However, the 2016 champion revealed that he felt disrespected by the organization for the way they treated him as both sides eventually parted ways.
Before he got exiled, the veteran was putting up a career-low 6.7 points on 34 percent shooting from the field this season. Although the Cavs were aiming to fight for a playoff spot before the year started, the team quickly changed directions after an injury to Kevin Love and the firing of head coach Tyronn Lue. Smith never intended to play for a lottery team or behind the likes of several youngsters.
