J.R. Smith has been on absolute tear from distance to start the new year. So much in fact, LeBron James thinks that Smith should be in this year’s 3-point contest on All-star Saturday in Toronto.
“I think I might need to start making that petition,” LeBron James said of lobbying to get Smith into next month’s 3-point contest on All-Star Saturday night.
“Us being the No. 1 team in the East, him shooting the ball the way he’s been shooting it, we need to try to get as many guys to All-Star as possible,” James said after Smith scored a season-high 27 points in Friday’s win over Minnesota, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Guys know in the league he’s an unbelievable 3-point shooter and he deserves an invite.”
And who can argue with the King? Smith in his 5 games in January is 19-35 from downtown, and his last 3 games is averaging 25.3 points and 6 three point field goals. Now while he might not average 6 makes a night from distance on the season J.R. is averaging a respectable 2.4 makes and 39.3 percent from three.
J.R. is known to be one of the hottest three point shooters when he’s rolling, is his recent play enough for him to get an invite to Toronto?