J.R. Smith Brings Championship Mindset to Inaugural APGA Michael Eaves Classic

Former NBA star and two-time NBA Champion J.R. Smith continues to prove that athletic excellence knows no boundaries as he prepares to compete in the inaugural Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Michael Eaves Classic & Celebrity Pro-Am at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana.

The 36-hole professional tournament, scheduled for July 28–29, marks another milestone in Smith’s remarkable transition from professional basketball to competitive golf. After enjoying a successful 16-year NBA career that included championships with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, Smith made headlines in 2021 by enrolling at North Carolina A&T State University, where he joined the Aggies men’s golf team while pursuing a college degree.

In May 2026, Smith achieved another personal milestone by earning his bachelor’s degree from the historically Black university, capping a five-year journey that inspired athletes and students alike. Now, the former NBA standout is taking his golf career to another level by competing against some of the APGA Tour’s top professionals as an amateur.

Smith tees off in the tournament’s opening round at 9:10 a.m. on Tuesday at TPC Louisiana, a championship venue that has hosted numerous PGA TOUR events. Live scoring will be available throughout the competition as Smith tests his game against one of the strongest fields assembled on the APGA Tour this season.

The tournament is hosted by Michael Eaves, ESPN SportsCenter and golf anchor, seven-time Emmy Award winner, and longtime supporter of the APGA Tour. The inaugural event features a 46-player field competing for an $8,000 winner’s prize from a $25,000 purse.

Among the tournament favorites are some of the most accomplished players on the APGA Tour, including Marcus Byrd, the 2025 Jeff Dailey APGA Tour Player of the Year and an 11-time APGA champion; Chase Johnson, a two-time APGA Tour Player of the Year; Willie Mack III, the Tour’s winningest active player with 19 APGA victories; and Luis Gagne, a former Louisiana State University standout and three-time U.S. Open competitor.

Although Smith enters the event as an amateur, his appearance reflects years of dedication to improving his golf game. During his collegiate career at North Carolina A&T, he embraced the challenges of balancing academics with Division I competition while becoming one of the most recognizable ambassadors for golf at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Smith’s commitment to golf has earned widespread respect throughout the sport. Rather than treating golf as a recreational pastime following his NBA career, he immersed himself in competitive collegiate golf, practicing alongside younger teammates and demonstrating the same discipline and determination that defined his professional basketball career.

His participation also shines a spotlight on the growing relationship between the APGA Tour and HBCU golf programs, both of which are expanding opportunities for golfers from historically underrepresented communities.

Founded in 2010, the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more inclusive future in golf. Through professional tournaments, player development initiatives, mentorship programs, and youth outreach, the APGA has become one of the sport’s leading organizations supporting diverse talent.

The APGA Tour’s 2026 season includes 12 tournaments awarding more than $1 million in prize money and bonuses, providing valuable competitive opportunities for players pursuing careers at the highest levels of professional golf.

The addition of the Michael Eaves Classic further strengthens the Tour’s growing national schedule while highlighting the importance of representation and access within the game.

For Smith, the event represents another chapter in an extraordinary athletic journey that has taken him from NBA arenas to college classrooms and now onto one of professional golf’s most influential developmental tours. His continued pursuit of excellence demonstrates that passion, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace new challenges can open doors well beyond the boundaries of one sport.