Let’s settle the debate that’s been tearing apart barbershops and group chats: how many NBA championships does J.R. Smith actually have? The answer is a deceptively simple two rings—but the journey to get there is far from simple. It’s a tale of sheer talent, a legendary brain fart, and a late-career pivot that would make Odysseus blush.
Ring Number One: The Cleveland Cavaliers Miracle
J.R. snagged his first ring in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it came in the most dramatic way possible. His team was down 3-1 in the NBA Finals against the 73-win Golden State Warriors—a deficit no team had ever overcome. Then, against all odds, LeBron James turned into a demigod, Kyrie Irving hit the dagger, and J.R. contributed just enough crazy energy to help seal the deal.
But here’s where it gets weird. J.R. averaged a modest 11.5 points per game that series, yet he was arguably the second-most meme’d player on the court. Why? Because his signature moment wasn’t a dunk or a steal—it was taking his shirt off mid-celebration and flexing like a WWE champion. That ring came with a side of pure, unfiltered chaos.
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The Infamous Game 1 Blunder (A Necessary Tangent)
You can’t talk about J.R.’s rings without addressing the elephant in the room—his legendary brain freeze in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals. With seconds left and the score tied, J.R. grabbed an offensive rebound and… dribbled out the clock, apparently thinking his team was ahead. LeBron stared at him like he’d just asked for a divorce.
That moment cost the Cavs a win and eventually the series. But here’s the twist: if that blunder never happened, maybe the Cavs win that title—and J.R. might not have been traded, then signed with the Lakers, where he got his second ring. So in a way, that goof was the universe’s most expensive lucky charm.
How Many Championship Rings Does Jr Smith Have | StatMuse
Ring Number Two: The Bubble Lake Show
Fast forward to 2020. J.R. Smith is out of the NBA, spending his time on a golf course or, I don’t know, painting abstract art. Then the pandemic hits, the Lakers need a warm body to replace Avery Bradley, and they call J.R. He shows up to the Orlando bubble looking like he just rolled out of a 7-Eleven, and plays exactly six minutes total in the entire playoffs.
Yes, you read that right. Six minutes. He didn’t score a single point. He didn’t grab a rebound. He mostly just clapped from the bench and probably told LeBron dad jokes. But because the Lakers won the title, that’s a second ring for J.R.—and he became the answer to a trivia question: “Who has more rings than Charles Barkley but fewer actual playoff minutes than your mailman?”
Magic Johnson, Dion Waiters and JR Smith show off NBA championship
The Fan Hypocrisy
Let’s be honest: if any other player had such a comical, stats-free ring, we’d mock them mercilessly. But J.R. Smith is charm personified. He once threw a bowl of soup at a team assistant coach (Chris Andersen, for the record) and still got rehired. He also got fined for untying an opponent’s shoe mid-game—a prank so stupid it loops back to genius.
The man is a walking contradiction: a two-time champion who, by the numbers, is more famous for his mistakes than his successes. And yet, he’s beloved. Why? Because he owns his chaos. He’d tell you with a straight face, “I got two rings, bro. What you got?” And you’d laugh because you can’t argue with the hardware.
J.R Smith Graduates from NC HBCU after Winning Ring
The Shoe Untying Incident (Because Of Course)
If you want to understand J.R.’s legacy, look no further than an on-court shoe untie. During a game against the Pacers, J.R. knelt down and calmly untied the laces of Damian Lillard’s sneaker while Lillard was shooting free throws. The NBA fined him $15,000, but J.R. argued it was a strategic defensive move. “If he can’t run fast, he can’t score,” J.R. told reporters with a grin.
That level of unshakable confidence—bordering on delusion—is why he’s a cult hero. He doesn’t just win rings; he wins them while being the most entertaining idiot in the room. The man once interrupted a press conference by asking LeBron if he wanted a glass of wine.
Cavs' JR Smith gives away his Championship ring
The Final Tally: Rings vs. Legacy
So, to recap: J.R. Smith has two NBA championships (2016 Cavs, 2020 Lakers). He also holds the record for most rings earned while averaging fewer than ten minutes per playoff game across both runs. He’s the only player in history whose championship highlight reel includes a shirtless celebration and a six-minute “performance.”
But numbers don’t capture the magic. J.R. Smith is proof that you don’t need to be a superstar to be legendary. You just need to be memorable enough that a decade from now, your grandkids will ask, “Grandpa, why did you untie that man’s shoe?” And you’ll smile, hold up two rings, and say, “Because champions do what they want.”
So raise a glass to J.R. Smith: the six-minutes-of-work, two-rings-of-glory GOAT. May his laces forever remain untied and his championship count stay weirdly, perfectly ironic.