J.R. Smith Reacts to News of Former NBA Player Being Shot and Killed

Former NBA player Andre Emmett was shot and killed early Monday morning in Dallas, a tragedy that struck a chord with former Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith.

After hearing the news, Smith took to social media to pay tribute to Emmett.

The 37-year-old Emmett was shot by two unknown assailants who are still at large. In an effort to get assistance from the public, the Dallas Police Department issued a statement on the shooting.

“On September 23, 2019, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the victim, Andre Emmett, a 37-year-old Black male was approached by two unknown suspects as he sat in his vehicle in front of his residence in the 1800 block of N. Prairie Avenue,” the statement read. “The suspects displayed a handgun and an altercation ensued, during which the victim was shot as he ran away from the suspects.

“The victim was located by a passerby, who called 911, several hundred feet from his residence. Dallas Fire and Rescue responded and transported him to an area hospital, where he later died. Witnesses reported seeing two suspects, one described as a tall, thin Black male wearing a red hat. The suspects entered a white Chrysler 300 and fled onto N. Fitzhugh Avenue towards Ross Avenue.”

Emmett was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) with the 35th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. That same night, he was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he played just eight games during the 2004-05 season.

Over the next six seasons, Emmett would split time between the D (now G) League and played overseas after failed bids to catch on with other NBA squads. He would make a brief return to the NBA during the 2011-12 season, playing in six games for the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets.

He most recently competed in the BIG3 and had played collegiately for four seasons at Texas Tech University.