One of the most unusual stories in the world of golf, JR Smith’s professional athletic career was initially focused on playing basketball for the New Orleans Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers. And then a charity golf outing inspired him and he was so enamored with the sport that he returned to college at North Carolina A&T State University and plays on its golf team there. He overcame the hurdles of NCAA regulations that bar a professional athlete from competing in college sports; those regs only apply to the pro sport the athlete competed in. So Smith was allowed to join the NC team, and he’s been playing with them since 2021.
Smith is heavily tattooed so shooting him always provides an instant visual brand.
THE GIG
The job was shooting stills for the August 2023 Golfpass episode with Chris Como. The show caught up with J.R. Smith on the range at Banyan Cay in West Palm Beach, Florida to discuss his transition from the NBA to college golf, and how his basketball career helped his golf game.
THE CLIENT
GolfPass was the client here, and they wanted stills from the video shoot process. GolfPass is a membership association that helps connect golfers to the game. It offers exclusive video content with golf instruction, interviews with golf greats, travel tips and credit at popular resorts. It even offers a $10 a monthly tee time credit.
Watch the episodes on GolfPass!
THE MODEL
One of the most unusual stories in the world of golf, JR Smith’s professional athletic career was initially focused on playing basketball for the New Orleans Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers. And then a charity golf outing inspired him and he was so enamored with the sport that he returned to college at North Carolina A&T State University and plays on its golf team there. He overcame the hurdles of NCAA regulations that bar a professional athlete from competing in college sports; those regs only apply to the pro sport the athlete competed in. So Smith was allowed to join the NC team, and he’s been playing with them since 2021.
HIGHLIGHTS
Smith is on Instagram at TeamSwish. He’s 6’6”, which adds a different challenge to coordinating and implementing a solid golf game. Here’s a golf clap for the NBA champion, fully tattooed and undertaking a new career as a college student athlete. He’s in his junior year at North Carolina A&T State University.
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