It could be hard balancing work & play in the city that never sleeps! JR Smith, whose off-days with the Knicks were blamed on him partying, drinking, and being out late, discussed how moving to Cleveland has in fact affected his game as there’s NO nightlife…
Parties every night of the week living the great fast life. Now he’s in Cleveland, where the nightlife is totally opposite of that in NYC.
During an interview with David Aldridge, he spoke on how the change of lifestyle has affected his game:
JRS:…I think this is the best situation for me, ’cause there’s nothing but basketball. There’s nothing you expect but basketball. There’s nothing, there’s no going out, there’s no late nights. There’s video games, basketball and basketball. So it’s a great thing, ’cause I go back to where I came from. When I grew up, I never, I wasn’t allowed to go out. I missed my prom because I went to an AAU tournament, and all that stuff. For me, it was basketball, basketball, basketball. And then when I got in the situation where I was at an early age, it was more, alright, let me see what this life is about, as opposed to just keep going. So now, I get the chance to get back to my roots.”
Me: Did you find that exploring that life, because you could, wasn’t all it was cracked up to be? I can spend whatever I want, and at the end of the day, it really doesn’t mean anything?
JRS: Especially from the standpoint of making me better. I always made myself better by staying in the gym. When you replace that with stuff off the court, then you’re taking away from what made you who you are, or what got you to a certain point. It was kind of pulling me down in a sense, of not getting enough rest, not doing things you’re supposed to be doing, things you’re used to doing. So when you start missing those shots you’re supposed to make, especially wide-open shots, it was like, alright, what’s going on, what’s going on? Instead of looking at what it is, you’re reverting to that even more, instead of going back to the basics. So I think that’s the greatest part about being here.
Read more: Black Sports Online
