BURLINGTON, N.C. — Former NBA guard J.R. Smith made his tournament debut as a 36-year-old freshman golfer for North Carolina A&T. Smith played two rounds at the Phoenix Invitational hosted by Elon.
He shot a 12-over-par 83 in Round 1 and a 7-over 78 in Round 2. Smith had skipped college to go to the NBA in 2004.
He won two championships in the NBA. The second came with the Los Angeles Lakers exactly one year earlier.
Smith says he was nervous about his debut but was proud to represent the Aggies from the Historically Black College or University in Greensboro.