Since his arrival in Northeast Ohio back in 2015, J.R. Smith has quickly become a vital piece of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ metaphorical puzzle. His honest demeanor and deadly accuracy at range have propelled him to the position of fan favorite, but how does he stay prepared?
After today’s shootaround at Cleveland Clinic Courts, “Swish,” as he is known, revealed that his preparation isn’t simpy about lifting weights. It’s also about shot repetition.
“I think you’ve made it to work every day by 7:30 a.m.,” Joe Vardon of cleveland.com said to Smith this morning. “What do you do when you get here?”
Rocking a cut-off Cavs hoodie (similar to Carmelo Anthony’s style), Smith began to explain his everyday practice routine to some of the beat reporters who were gathered to hear him speak.
“I shoot,” Smith said. “I shoot a lot, actually. I get a lot of spot-shots up. I’ve never really been a weight-lifting guy, so I’ve kind of turned the corner on that. I just try to eat, and you know, get my treatments in.”
There is no doubt that Smith, now 32 years of age and entering his 15th season, is one of the best shooters in the NBA. However, it seems as though the former Sixth Man of the Year award winner (2013) is also one of the more motivated players in the association. If you wake up early in the morning for work, just know that Swish is probably awake as well, grinding in the practice gym.
