J.R. Smith has come a long way over the last year and a half. Originally a throw-in when traded to the Cavs along with Iman Shumpert back in January of 2015, Smith has taken a turn for the better in his career and his life, moving on from the distracts of New York city to focus on family, the brotherhood, and basketball.
A year-and-a-half later, Smith is atop the basketball world as an NBA Champion and has found a home where both the fans and the team sincerely want him.
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NBA Champion J.R. Smith (make sure you don’t forget) celebrated his 31st birthday on Friday, and LeBron James posted a photo of those two on Instagram with a heartfelt message to Smith. He also made it very clear that despite the contract situation, Smith is not going anywhere.