J.R. Smith's time with the Cleveland Cavaliers was a wild ride of incredible shots and unforgettable blunders. As the current Cavaliers handle a difficult stretch with four consecutive losses, including a 93-130 defeat to the New York Knicks on May 26, 2026, fans can look back on Smith's chaotic brilliance. His tenure had everything from game-winning threes to a famous shirtless championship parade.
Smith's number five moment was a half-court buzzer-beater against the Indiana Pacers in the 2018 playoffs. With the first quarter clock expiring in Game 4, he caught an inbounds pass, took one dribble, and drilled the shot. The Cavaliers won that game by just four points, and Smith's three was a major reason why. He had a knack for hitting the craziest shots when they mattered most.
His fourth-best highlight came in Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals. Cleveland was blowing out the Golden State Warriors, and Smith threw a perfect no-look lob to LeBron James on a fast break. James finished the alley-oop with authority, electrifying the home crowd. That play helped set the stage for the historic Game 7 comeback that delivered Cleveland's first championship.
Not every memory was positive. The third spot goes to a notorious defensive lapse during the 2016-17 season. While the Cavaliers were on defense against the Milwaukee Bucks, Smith was seen dapping up Jason Terry near the sideline. He lost track of his man, Tony Snell, who cut backdoor for an easy dunk. Cleveland lost that game by 17 points. It was a classic J.R. Moment, memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Of course, the 2018 NBA Finals provided another tough memory. After grabbing an offensive rebound with the score tied late in Game 1, Smith dribbled out the clock instead of attempting a shot. The mistake sent the game to overtime, and the Warriors went on to win and eventually sweep the series. It remains one of the most discussed plays in Finals history.
Smith's second-best moment is a pure shooting display. In Game 1 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks, he came off the bench and went nuclear. He scored 28 points, hitting 8 of his 12 attempts from three-point range. That performance set a Cavaliers playoff record for three-pointers in a game and powered a 97-89 victory. He was simply unstoppable from deep that night.
The top moment isn't from a game at all. After winning the 2016 championship, Smith celebrated by going shirtless for the entire victory parade through Cleveland. He was living his best life, and the image became iconic. It was so notable that President Barack Obama joked about it during the team's White House visit. Smith's unbridled joy perfectly captured the feeling of a city that had waited decades for a title.
The current Cavaliers, while struggling with a recent form of 1 win and 4 losses in their last five games, have a rich history of characters like Smith. You can explore the team's current schedule and roster on our schedule and roster pages. His legacy is a mix of breathtaking skill and unpredictable antics, making him one of the most unique players to ever wear the wine and gold.
