LeBron James 'So Happy and Proud' of JR Smith for Making NC A&T's Golf Team

Joseph Zucker @@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVAugust 24, 2021

ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: LeBron James #23 high-fives J.R. Smith #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs on September 26, 2020 at AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was over the moon to see the NCAA rule former NBA swingman JR Smith eligible to join the North Carolina A&T men's golf team.

LeBron James @KingJames
So happy and proud of you my brother <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealJRSmith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealJRSmith</a>!!!! Love you kid! Best of luck you student/athlete 🙏🏾💪🏾✊🏾👑🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 GO AGGIES ⛳️ TEAM <a href="https://t.co/3OJr6nnzGo">https://t.co/3OJr6nnzGo</a>

Smith and James spent four seasons together with the Cleveland Cavaliers and were teammates during the Los Angeles Lakers' title run at the Walt Disney World Resort bubble in 2019-20.

That was the last year Smith played in the NBA. With his career done, he enrolled at North Carolina A&T and petitioned the NCAA to golf for the Aggies. Playing professionally in the NBA didn't preclude him from competing collegiately in a different sport.

"It was probably one of the most exciting feelings I've had in a while," Smith said to The Undefeated. "I really didn't know how it was going to go. ... But to be able to actually call myself a student-athlete is a great feeling."

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