Former NBA player J.R. Smith was arrested in Texas on Tuesday on a family violence assault charge, according to Hunt County jail records.
Smith, whose full name is Earl Joseph Smith III, was taken into custody after Royse City police stopped him on Interstate 30 due to an automatic license plate reader alert for an outstanding warrant. The arrest occurred on Monday afternoon, and no bond has been set at this time.
The charge, family violence assault causing bodily injury, is classified as a misdemeanor for first-time offenders. Police Chief Kirk Aldridge stated that Smith was identified and arrested, and his vehicle was released to his brother, who was present at the time of the stop.
Smith, a two-time NBA champion, played 16 seasons in the league, winning titles with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2016) and Los Angeles Lakers (2020). He was also named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2013 while with the New York Knicks. His last NBA appearance was in Game 3 of the 2020 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.
In 2009, Smith was sentenced to 90 days in jail (with 60 days suspended) and 500 hours of community service for reckless driving after a 2007 auto accident in Millstone, New Jersey, which resulted in the death of a passenger. He served 24 days in jail in connection with that case.
Smith has not formally retired from the NBA but has been inactive in the league for the past six years. He recently returned to North Carolina A&T State University, where he graduated in May 2026 and joined the school’s golf team.
No immediate statement from Smith’s representatives was available at the time of reporting.