J.R. Smith made his name with high-flying dunks and streaky 3-point shooting during a 16-year NBA career. These days, he’s a regular on podcasts, offering insight into today’s game and sharing stories from his playing days.
Smith made waves with his comments about the most gifted player he’s ever played with.
J.R. Smith Gives Kyrie Irving His Flowers
On a recent episode of Carmelo Anthony’s “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Smith joined as a guest and broke down why Kyrie Irving stood out to him as the “most gifted” player he’s ever played with.
"Kyrie's the only player I've ever seen that can score at every level with either hand."
JR easily stamped Kyrie Irving as his most gifted teammate because of his mind-boggling moves 😳 pic.twitter.com/MLfNymn6z3
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn)
“I think he’s the most gifted offensive player I played with. I think Kyrie is the only person I’ve seen that can score at every level with either hand,” Smith said.
“He can shoot left-handed. I’ve seen him shoot left-hand middies. He’s the best non-dominant and dominant finisher I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s not even close. His imagination with getting to spots. The imagination with spin on the backboard, I don’t know, man…”
Irving has long been considered one of the most skilled ball-handlers and finishers in NBA history, so the praise from a former teammate comes as little surprise.
Watching Irving use his craft, ball-handling, and patience is like watching an artist at work. The court becomes his canvas, and the ball, his brush.
Did Smith Snub LeBron James?
Smith played for five NBA teams: the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Charlotte Hornets. Still, he’s best remembered for his time in Cleveland, where he teamed up with both Kyrie Irving and LeBron James.
Together, that trio helped deliver the Cavaliers’ first-ever NBA championship, famously becoming the only team to come back from a 3–1 Finals deficit to win the title.
Over the course of his career, Smith also played with stars like Anthony, Allen Iverson, Anthony Davis, and Amar’e Stoudemire. But none, in his eyes, compares to Irving when it comes to pure offensive skill.
While James is widely recognized as one of the most dominant and complete players in history, and is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, many don’t view him as a naturally “gifted” scorer in the way they see Irving. Scoring, for some, is more than just numbers. It’s about style, finesse, and touch — the artistry of the game.
Irving is expected to miss part of the 2025–26 season with a torn ACL, but when he returns, fans can expect the same smooth, creative game that’s earned him praise from teammates and legends alike.
