J.R. Smith Speaks Out On His Infamous 2018 Finals Blunder: “Nobody Wanted To Take Responsibility For It, So You Left Me With It.”

2 Min Read

Credit: Sportsnet

Over his 16 year career, J.R. Smith created a lot of memorable moments. Unfortunately for him, his most memorable also happens to be one of his worst.

It was Game 1 of the 2018 Finals when Smith made a terrible mistake that many believe cost the Cavaliers the series. With just seconds left in a tied game, J.R. (who seemingly forgot the score) took the ball back instead of getting up a last-minute shot and essentially sent both teams to overtime.

It was a frustrating moment for Cavs fans and a mistake that defined Smith’s career for years after.

After being given a chance to speak on those few seconds of play, Smith opened up about how nobody else on the team was willing to accept any of the blame.

“It was a island because none of the coaches said s—,” Smith said. “It was like nobody wanted to take responsibility for it, so you left me with it. You know what I’m saying? And it’s like, okay, cool. If that’s the way you want to play it, we can’t call ourselves a real team.”

J.R. only played 11 more regular-season games for Cleveland after the 2018 Finals, and LeBron left town for the sunny skies of Los Angeles. By all accounts, that mistake by Smith was the beginning of the end for that chapter of the Cavaliers’ history.

“I’m happy that he made the decision to do that,” Kevin Durant revealed in a 2018 interview. “Especially with the game on the line, we needed that win for the sweep.”

That moment will no doubt haunt the former sharpshooter for the rest of his life, but he has done more than enough to be proud of his NBA tenure.

He’s a 2x Champion, Sixth Man of the Year winner, and a bonafide shooter.

It’s just a shame that he gets so much heat for losing a game that involved so many different factors.

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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