LeBron James Congratulates J.R. Smith on College Graduation, Won NBA Titles Together on Lakers, Cavs

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James congratulated his former teammate J.R. Smith on his upcoming graduation from college.

James responded Wednesday to a post from Slam celebrating Smith's upcoming graduating from North Carolina A&T.

"SOOOOO PROUD OF YOU," James wrote in an Instagram story tagging Smith.

Smith was 19 years old when he was drafted out of high school by the New Orleans Hornets in 2004.

James and Smith later played parts of four seasons together in Cleveland, where the two helped lead the Cavaliers to their first NBA title in 2016.

After closing out his NBA career by winning another title alongside James and the Lakers in 2019-20, Smith enrolled at NC A&T in 2021 and petitioned the NCAA for permission to play for the men's golf team.

He ultimately played for the Aggies for five years in a college career documented in Redefined: J.R. Smith, an Amazon Studios documentary series on which James was a producer.

Smith, now 40, is set to graduate Saturday with a Bachelor's degree.