Former NBA star and now academic honor student J.R. Smith was awarded North Carolina A&T’s Academic Athlete of the Year for finishing his first year with a 4.0 GPA. 

“Your true wealth is defined by how you encourage/inspire others! #GREATDAY,” he shared on Twitter.

The 36-year-old has utilized social media to share his college experiences with former teammates and classmates who have backed him up in his academic pursuits. Smith has addressed his uncertainties and fears of being a first-time student in his encouraging and sympathetic tweets.

“If I’m being honest at all, I am tariffed [sic] to go back to school…Literally, these assignments still make my heads sweat,” Smith tweeted after receiving his award. “Overcoming these fears of being vulnerable and open about my disability has given me real power! Power no one will ever take from me.”

The former basketball player’s 4.0 didn’t come easy- with exams, papers, and presentations, Smith tweeted about utilizing a tutor to get his grades up during his last semester.

In December, celebrating his achievement, Smith excitedly shared how much time and dedication went into his education. Elated and unable to fully gather his thoughts, Smith expressed how this award implies that his disabilities cant hold him back.

“I can’t even describe the feeling; I ain’t even gonna lie to you,” Smith said in the video. “A lot of hard work went into that s**t. When I tell you some s**t you worked for, oh my God. Monday through Friday, 8 to 11, sometimes longer. Straight school work, when you’re not used to going to school and all of that s**t, oh man.”

“Especially when you don’t think you can do it,” he added. “You always hear about your disabilities and all this s**t that plays a part in why you can’t think when you want to, calculate and formulate s**t when you want to and still being able to achieve that s**t… I ain’t even gonna lie, I’m happy about that one.”

Former teammate LeBron James complimented Smith on his academic award, celebrating his friend’s accomplishments.

“YESSIR!! Kid, I’m so proud of you!!! Love you, dude,” James tweeted after Smith was selected Academic Athlete of the Year.

Congratulations to Smith on his off-court success.

Blavity-UHBCUSJR SmithNorth Carolina A&T State University