Former NBA guard J.R. Smith is aiming to build a career in golf long after retiring from basketball, and he has his sights set on a unique role in the sport.
The two-time NBA champion said he hopes to become a recognizable personality around golf broadcasts and events.
“I want to be the Snoop of golf,” Smith, 40, told The Post, referencing Snoop Dogg’s work as a commentator and special correspondent during multiple Olympic Games.
“It’d be a great spot for me.”
Since finishing his NBA career, Smith has immersed himself in golf. After playing collegiately at North Carolina A&T, he has shifted his focus toward promoting the sport and creating opportunities for younger players.
“I’ve been working on getting into the more entrepreneurial side of golf,” he said. “I honestly want to start hosting my own tournament and events. So, at the high school level, I really want to blow it out of the water from a grassroots side.
“I think there can be a better job of promoting golf and different events and tournaments for the younger generation… Black people playing the game of golf, that’s where I’m really trying to tap into – getting people who look like myself into the game.”
Smith has also partnered with Oakley Golf and continues to compete in celebrity and amateur tournaments.
The 16-year NBA veteran said golf satisfies the same competitive drive that fueled his basketball career.
“[Golf] is another way for me to be as competitive as I was on court, and even more so because it’s just you competing,” Smith said.
“[In the NBA] you get the team, you know, see the results. So I put a lot of time into my game. My lady would definitely say I did. So for me, I tell you, it’s very serious, and I’m definitely trying to win.”
JR Smith working on grassroots golf career after NBA stardom: ‘I want to be the Snoop of golf’ https://t.co/LITdG4fE5h pic.twitter.com/dLl0jCiVey
— New York Post (@nypost) July 31, 2026
