J.R. Smith's Three-Pointer

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Lore & Background

During his time with the Denver Nuggets, Smith established himself as an electric offensive force despite occasional friction with coach George Karl regarding his shot selection. In the 2008–09 season, he averaged 15.2 points over 81 games and finished third in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award behind Jason Terry and the winner. A defining moment occurred on April 13, 2009, when Smith scored a career-high 45 points and made 11 three-pointers against the Sacramento Kings. This performance came after the Nuggets had already clinched the Northwest Division title on April 10, though it did not secure home-court advantage in the playoffs; the Nuggets did not have home court against the Lakers in the 2009 playoffs. Later that season, on December 23, 2009, he scored a season-high 41 points against the Atlanta Hawks, becoming the second NBA player ever to record multiple games with 10 or more made three-pointers, following Ray Allen. His tenure was marked by these high-volume shooting displays, even as he faced scrutiny for decision-making during critical moments.

In Their Own Story

Smith's arrival in Denver began with turbulence; shortly after being traded on July 20, 2006, he served a 10-game suspension following his involvement in a melee at Madison Square Garden. He also missed eight games recovering from arthroscopic left knee surgery that season. Despite these setbacks and early struggles in the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs—where he went 0-for-12 from three-point range—he found his rhythm over subsequent years. By the 2009–10 season, he averaged a then career-high 15.4 points per game. His relationship with coach George Karl remained complex; while Karl reportedly grew frustrated with Smith's "befuddling shot selection," the team relied heavily on his ability to score in bursts. In the 2013 playoffs, Smith famously hit nine three-pointers against the Sacramento Kings, tying a Knicks franchise record, though this occurred after he had already left Denver for New York.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking at J.R. Smith's Denver Nuggets career should focus on his statistical peaks between 2007 and 2011. Key turning points include his suspension in December 2006 and his emergence as a Sixth Man contender in 2009. The source highlights his record-breaking shooting nights: the 45-point, 11-three-pointer game against Sacramento on April 13, 2009, and the 41-point performance against Atlanta on December 23, 2009. These games established him as a unique threat capable of overwhelming defenses with volume three-point shooting. The text also notes that his time in Denver ended in September 2011 due to the NBA lockout, leading to a stint in China before his return to the league.

Did You Know?

• Smith became the second NBA player ever to record multiple games with 10 or more made three-pointers on December 23, 2009, following Ray Allen.
• On April 13, 2009, Smith's 11 made three-pointers were a franchise best for the Denver Nuggets; the game came after the team had already clinched the Northwest Division title on April 10.
• Smith served a 10-game suspension early in his Denver tenure following a bench-clearing melee at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks.
• During his time with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, Smith scored a season-high 60 points and made 14 three-pointers in a single game on February 1, 2012.
• Smith finished third in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in the 2008–09 season, behind Jason Terry and the winner.

Rising Star and Early Turbulence

Earl Joseph "J.R." Smith III grew up in Clarksburg, New Jersey, attending Steinert High, McCorristin Catholic High, and Lakewood High before settling at Saint Benedict's Preparatory School. After winning co-MVP with Dwight Howard at the 2004 McDonald's All-American Game, he bypassed college to enter the NBA draft. Selected 18th overall by the New Orleans Hornets, he earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors three times and finished third in the 2005 Slam Dunk Contest. However, a poor work ethic led to him falling out of favor with coach Byron Scott, ending his second season out of the rotation.

The Denver Dynamo and Sixth Man Excellence

Traded to the Nuggets on July 20, 2006, Smith served a 10-game suspension for a melee at Madison Square Garden. He set career highs in field goal percentage (.461) and three-point percentage (.403) during the 2007–08 season. In 2008–09, he averaged 15.2 points and finished second for Sixth Man of the Year. On April 13, 2009, he scored a career-high 45 points with 11 three-pointers against the Kings to clinch the division title. On December 23, 2009, he became the first player with multiple games of 10+ made threes after scoring 41 points against Atlanta. He left Denver in September 2011 due to the lockout.

Global Dominance and Championship Glory

In September 2011, Smith signed a $3 million deal with Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China during the NBA lockout, averaging 34.4 points per game and scoring 60 points on February 1, 2012. He later played for the New York Knicks (2012–2015), winning Sixth Man of the Year in 2013 after a career-high 18.1 points per game season. His career culminated with two NBA championships: first with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, where he made a franchise playoff-record 65 three-pointers, and later with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

From Court to Course: A New Chapter

In 2021, Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University, joining their Aggies golf team. This marked a shift from his professional basketball career, which included stints with the Hornets, Nuggets, Knicks, Cavaliers, and Zhejiang Golden Bulls.