Shirtless J.R. Smith returns seconds after Lakers win NBA title

Shirtless J.R. Smith has made his official return.

The Los Angeles Lakers are champions once again and that means J.R. Smith has earned the second championship ring in his NBA career.

Smith’s first came with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and the veteran became a legend in Northeast Ohio for remaining shirtless for what seemed like that entire summer. He was the star of the championship parade and his shirtless self made a return Sunday night in the final seconds of the title-clinching win.

J.R. Smith is a shirtless champion once again

Smith has aligned himself with LeBron James en route to his two titles. He had a larger impact in the 2016 Cavaliers run, but was rarely seen this postseason. Smith played a total of nine minutes in these Finals and scored three points.

He did have an 11-point game against Portland at the start of the playoffs, but was more suited for a reserve role as time went on. But hey, a ring is a ring and Smith got to celebrate in vintage fashion.

Smith’s career seemed to be over once the Cavaliers essentially exiled him during the 2018-19 season. He appeared in 11 games before being sent home permanently and was not on a team at the start of this past season. He eventually signed with the Lakers on July 1 and the late finish to the season resulted in him being a champion.

There are plenty of amazing stories on this Lakers team, including Dion Waiters getting a ring in his own season of redemption with the Lakers. The same is true for Dwight Howard and even Anthony Davis.

The celebration will be an extended one and don’t be surprised if “Shirtless J.R.” makes another appearances once a proper party can be held for the Lakers and their fans.