Former Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard JR Smith reacted to NBA 2K20 adding the veteran’s signature handshakes to the video game, so users at home can participate in the unique gestures and celebrations.
Smith shared a video of himself watching various handshakes in the video games, posting on Instagram.
The 34-year-old won an NBA championship with the Cavs in 2016 alongside LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, and Tristan Thompson, but his 2018-19 season with the team would be his last. Only appearing in 11 games this past season, Smith was mostly away from the team as Cleveland openly shopped the veteran wing in trades. Choosing to go a more youthful path, the Cavs no longer needed Smith’s services. Unable to find a suitable trade, general manager Koby Altman finally waived and released Smith in July this year.
Smith arrived in Cleveland in January 2015 in a three-team trade alongside guard Iman Shumpert from the New York Knicks. While he may have overstayed his welcome due to the very different Cavs team after James exited a second time, Cleveland fans fondly remember Smith as an eccentric, and sometimes shirtless, member of the only championship-winning Cavs team in franchise history.
Smith reportedly turned down a million-dollar offer to play in China next season and is still searching for his next NBA home. It’s unclear if he has an invite extended from James and the Los Angeles Lakers, but Smith is a free agent at the moment.
The former Sixth Man of the Year with the Knicks averaged 10.3 points per game in 255 appearances for the Cavs, shooting 40.1% from the field and competing in 79 playoff games over four-plus seasons.