J.R. Smith is finally getting the college-athlete experience he missed out on nearly two decades ago.
The 16-year NBA veteran who skipped college basketball, won two world championships and made millions is now a freshman walk-on for the North Carolina A&T men's golf team. Now, instead of first-class cross-country travel for nightly games against the world's best basketball players, Smith -- who turns 36 next month -- is focused on completing class assignments and working on his golf game.
"It's going to be fun," Smith said Monday in an online news conference. "Obviously different environments from playing in front of 20,000 people to playing in a college golf gallery.