Earl Joseph "J. R." Smith III (born September 9, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player. He played high school basketball at New Jersey basketball powerhouse Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark. He entered the NBA out of high school after being selected in the first round of the 2004 NBA draft with the 18th overall pick by the New Orleans Hornets. He has also played for the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, as well as for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association. Smith has won two NBA Championships, with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.