Two-Time NBA Champion J.R. Smith Arrested in Texas on Family Violence Assault Charge
Former NBA star and two-time champion J.R. Smith has been arrested in Texas on a charge of assault causing bodily injury involving family violence, according to Hunt County jail records and local law enforcement.
Smith, 41, was taken into custody in Hunt County after an active warrant issued by the Southlake Police Department was flagged. According to police, officers in Royse City received an alert from an automated license plate reader regarding a vehicle associated with a wanted person. Smith was subsequently stopped and arrested.
He was booked into the Hunt County Detention Center on the family-violence assault charge. Initial reports said no bond had been set, although subsequent jail-record reporting indicated that a $5,000 bond was later posted.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed detailed information about the incident that led to the warrant. The identity of the alleged victim and the circumstances surrounding the reported assault have also not been released. Southlake police have said the investigation remains ongoing.
J.R. Smith’s NBA Career
Smith enjoyed a 16-year NBA career after entering the league straight out of high school in 2004. He played for the New Orleans Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.
He became particularly well known during his time with the New York Knicks and was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2013. Over his NBA career, Smith averaged 12.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game across 977 regular-season appearances.
Smith won his first NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, playing alongside LeBron James as the team completed its historic championship run.
Four years later, he won another championship with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2019-20 season, again as a teammate of James. His final NBA appearance came during the 2020 NBA Finals.
Life After Basketball
Following his NBA career, Smith pursued a different path through education and golf. He attended North Carolina A&T State University and became involved with the university’s golf program. He graduated in 2026 with a degree in liberal studies.
He has also remained involved in basketball discussions and competitive golf following his professional playing career.
For now, details surrounding the Texas arrest remain limited. Authorities have not released further information about the allegations, and the investigation is ongoing. An arrest or criminal charge is an allegation and does not by itself establish guilt.