https://twitter.com/BConnoisseur/status/653718896562831360
This week has been all about the fans for J.R. Smith. Days after winning $30,000 for a serviceman and his family by hitting a half court shot, the Cleveland Cavaliers wing was in a giving mood again during his team’s exhibition at Ohio State University.
Sidelined with a minor hamstring injury on Monday night, Smith flagged down an arena vendor while watching the action from the bench to procure himself a treat. But he’s not as selfish an eater as he sometimes is a basketball player. The 30-year-old got two helpings of cotton candy, apparently giving the second one to the son of pro golfer Jason Day.
1st Domino: Jason Day flew from the Presidents Cup in Korea yesterday to CLE game today. 2nd Domino: J.R. bought cotton candy for Day's son
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 13, 2015
Cavs guard J.R. Smith just bought two cotton candies on the bench and gave one to a fan. He kept the other. He’s the best.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) October 12, 2015
Smith gets a bad rap from NBA fans, and it’s mostly justified. Not only has his work ethic been called into question throughout his career, but he’s also crossed the line between physical and dirty play on multiple occasions – most recently just last week.
Does this smile inducing moment render those transgressions (and more) moot? Of course not. Smith pretty much deserves all of the criticism he gets, but this at least serves as a reminder that even the most controversial professional athletes, like all of us, have warmth inside them, too.
Here’s hoping Smith continues to show this side of his personality as opposed to the less appealing ones going forward.
[h/t CBS Sports]
