JR Smith calls out old Knicks front office after confessing he played 70% of NBA career ‘depressed’

J.R. Smith had a 16-year NBA career. He won two championships and was a Sixth Man of the Year winner. He is also responsible for some of the best highlight dunks in league history, and his jump shot could get hot at any given time. However, Smith is also one of the most misunderstood players in recent league history. He recently opened up on the Pivot Podcast about the struggles he faced throughout his career.

“I went through things with my mental health consistently and long enough to where I felt like, I played 16 years, I probably played 70% of my career depressed,” Smith admitted. “That’s why I love K [Kevin] Love because he talks about it all the time, like the mental aspect of it, the emotional [side], the depression, all of that. Getting hurt and not being able to play. Getting hooked on pills. Bro, I went through all of that.”

J. R. Smith reveals he played 70% of his 16-year NBA career depressed

“I went through things with my mental health consistently long enough to where I feel like I probably played 70% of my career depressed”

“That’s why I love Kevin Love because he talks about it all the time.… pic.twitter.com/wP949ukDXk

— dank (@cptdankkk) June 16, 2026

Smith’s basketball journey was one of much more triumph and adversity than he is given credit for. He also alluded that the Knicks did him dirty during his time with the team. Despite winning Sixth Man of the Year with the team, New York threw him in as filler in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“I played for the Knicks, I tore my meniscus, I had to sit out, and they rushed me back,” Smith said. “I’m hurting the whole time, [and] I get addicted to pain pills. “They know it, but nobody comes and says ,’ Yo man, you good? What can we do to help you?’ Nah. ‘He’s terrible. He’s this. He’s that. Ship him to Cleveland. He’s a throw-in for the trade.’ I’m dealing with a lot of sh*t and y’all don’t care. You literally don’t care at all. You just throw more dirt on my name and then move me.”

The Knicks, of course, just won the NBA championship, but things haven’t always been so great for the franchise. The team hadn’t won the NBA Finals since 1973 before their recent triumph.

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