JR Smith Claps Back at Fan Saying Jalen Brunson, Knicks Would Beat LeBron, 2016 Cavs Title Team

Never one to shy away from a challenge, JR Smith clapped back at a fan for saying the 2026 New York Knicks would beat the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers team in a battle of NBA champions.

In a video on his Instagram, Brunson dismissed the idea of this Knicks squad beating the 2016 Cavs team because they don't have anyone to guard LeBron James or Kyrie Irving.

Smith did suggest that he could guard Jalen Brunson, which might be a stretch, though he was lauded for his defensive effort during that 2016 postseason run. Iman Shumpert would also get some run trying to stop Brunson.

It is fun to think about a matchup of prime LeBron James against OG Anunoby. James almost certainly gets the better of the matchup because it was virtually impossible to stop him, but Anunoby is one of the few players with the physical profile who could compete with the future Hall of Famer when he was at his peak.

Smith has experience with both the Cavs and Knicks. He played five seasons in Cleveland four in New York, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors with the Knicks during the 2012-13 season.

Prior to Brunson's signing in June 2022, both Smith and Shumpert were part of the last Knicks team to win a playoff series in 2013 when they defeated the Boston Celtics in the first round.

The 2016 Cavs team famously overcame a 3-1 series deficit to the Golden State Warriors to win the franchise's first championship.