In a stunning revelation, J.R. Smith has opened up about the lingering tension between him and LeBron James stemming from a pivotal moment in the 2018 NBA Finals. Nearly eight years after the Cleveland Cavaliers were swept by the Golden State Warriors, it appears the emotional fallout from that series is far from over for James.
During a recent appearance on the Pivot podcast, Smith recounted what many consider to be the most regrettable mistake of his career. In Game 1, with the score tied at 107-107, Smith grabbed a crucial rebound off a missed free throw but opted to dribble out the clock instead of attempting a shot or calling a timeout. His reasoning? He believed the team would have time to set up for the best possible play.
“I thought we were going to call a timeout after I got the rebound,” Smith explained. “At that moment, I was focused on getting the best shot possible.” He added that he didn’t hear a whistle, which led him to believe the game was still on. “I was like, ‘Let me get to the corner,’ because I wasn’t about to shoot over Kevin Durant.”
Smith also shared his thought process in that tense moment, saying, “I was trying to get the ball to Bron. If I shoot this and miss, they’re going to be furious. I wanted to give him the chance to make the play.” However, the decision not to call a timeout weighed heavily on the outcome, and Smith recalls that James was visibly frustrated.
“Oh, he was hot. He was legitimately confused,” Smith recalled, noting that they never discussed the incident afterward. “He’s still mad. He is still mad.”
James had an incredible performance that night, scoring 51 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Warriors took the game 124-114. Despite his stellar stats—averaging 34.0 points, 10.0 assists, and 8.5 rebounds throughout the series—James described that loss as one of the most heartbreaking of his career. In the postgame press conference, he famously remarked, “I don’t know what J.R. was thinking.”
As time passes, the emotional scars from that series still seem to linger for both players. With Smith’s recent comments, fans are left wondering if this revelation might finally pave the way for a long-overdue conversation between the two former teammates. Could this be the moment for closure, or will the shadows of the past continue to loom over their relationship?
