Former NBA player and two-time champion JR Smith was arrested in Texas on Monday in connection with an alleged family-violence assault, according to local jail records.
Smith, 41, was detained by officers from the Royse City Police Department and subsequently booked at the Hunt County Detention Center. His bond was later set at $5,000 by a Hunt County magistrate judge.
Records indicated that Smith was still being held as of Tuesday afternoon. His representatives had not issued an immediate statement regarding the case.
The arrest stemmed from a warrant issued by the Southlake Police Department, according to Royse City Police Chief Kirk Aldridge.
Police became aware of the warrant after an alert was issued and subsequently located a vehicle associated with Smith on Interstate 30, northeast of Dallas. Officers stopped the vehicle and arrested Smith after confirming his identity.
Aldridge said Smith was accompanied by his brother at the time. The vehicle was turned over to the brother after Smith was taken into custody.
Southlake police confirmed that the arrest is connected to an active investigation but did not disclose additional details. A department spokesperson said Smith will face arraignment in Tarrant County.
Smith played 16 NBA seasons, beginning with the New Orleans Hornets and later suiting up for the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.
He became a key role player during championship runs with Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers, winning NBA titles twice. Smith was also recognized as the league’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2013.
His final NBA appearance came in 2020 with the Lakers. He finished his professional basketball career with averages of 12.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Following his basketball career, Smith pursued golf at North Carolina A&T, representing the school at the collegiate level before graduating in May.
Smith has previously faced legal consequences unrelated to the current case. In 2009, he received a 90-day jail sentence, with 60 days suspended, and was ordered to complete 500 hours of community service after pleading to reckless driving connected to a 2007 crash that killed a friend. (Adrian Co)
