Source: Bruce Yeung / Getty
The basketball star couldn’t hold back the tears.
It was an emotional night for the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday after their historic win in Game 7 of the championship series.
But what stands out as one of the most touching moments of the night was J.R. Smith‘s beautiful tribute to his parents and his family. His 12-year NBA career hasn’t been easy, but he made it clear that it’s his family that has held him up and kept him going. Overcome with emotion, J.R. could barely finish his statement without tears streaming down his face.
He said:
“I mean, my parents, my family, that’s the biggest inspiration in my life. I’ve been in a lot of dark spots in my life, and if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to get out of it. But they are who they are. They fought with me. They yelled at me, they screamed at me, they loved me, they hugged me, they cried with me, and they always stuck by my side no matter right or wrong.
“I know a lot of people don’t have their parents in their life, their mother, their father, but I’ve got the best two you could ask for, I swear. There’s six of us, and they didn’t treat any of us different. They loved us the same. They treated us all the same, and I just wanted to be like them when I grow up.
“I mean, my dad is easily one of my biggest inspirations to play this game. To hear people talk bad about me, it hurts me because I know it hurts him, and that’s not who I am. And I know he raised me better, and I know I want to do better. Just everything I do is for my parents and my family. I mean, I don’t really – the cars are nice, the houses are nice – but none of this matters without them. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here. I don’t know where I would be, honestly. If it wasn’t for them, if it wasn’t for the structure and the backbone that I have, I wouldn’t be able to mess up and keep coming back and being able to sit in front of you as a world champion.”
J.R.’s father, Earl Smith Jr., watched and appeared to be holding back tears himself. After the statement, the two hugged, melting all of our collective hearts.
VIDEO CREDIT : YouTube | PHOTO VREDIT: Getty, Twitter
SOURCE: HelloBeautiful.com
Article Courtesy of HelloBeautiful
First Picture Courtesy of Getty Images and HelloBeautiful
Tweet and Second Picture Courtesy of the NBA, Twitter, and HelloBeautiful
Video Courtesy of YouTube and HelloBeautiful
Watch J.R. Smith Give Emotional Tribute To Parents After Championship Win: ‘Everything I Do Is For Them’ was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
