Bodycam video from J.R. Smith’s September arrest surfaced Tuesday, and the officers spent part of the stop venting about LeBron James. One officer said James “stole Luka from us,” according to TMZ.
J.R. Smith Bodycam Footage Turns Into A LeBron James Rant
TMZ reports that police in Royse City, Texas, pulled Smith over on Sept. 28 because they suspected an active warrant. Smith got out of his vehicle, and the conversation turned to basketball. He told the officers he retired from the NBA in 2020 and described his path through the league. TMZ says he named the Lakers and the Cavaliers. Lakers Daily says he talked about his championships with Cleveland and Los Angeles. An officer asked about his championship rings. Smith said he has two, from playing with Kyrie Irving and LeBron James.
Lakers Daily says one officer called James “He who shall not be named.” Smith asked whether the officer was not a fan. The officer then blamed James for the 2025 trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers, per TMZ, which quotes him saying James “stole Luka from us.” Another officer said nobody felt happy about the deal. TMZ says the first officer made clear the frustration still felt fresh about a year later.
Fadeaway World adds a detail TMZ does not carry. It reports that the officer said he is “still mad” and that Rick Carlisle should have been allowed to coach and condition the team. TMZ and Fadeaway World both describe the officer as a Mavericks fan. TMZ says that label reflects its own impression. Neither outlet names him. The officers then confirmed the warrant and arrested Smith. TMZ says he left custody shortly after.
Why J.R. Smith was Arrested In Royse City
The charge is family violence assault causing bodily injury. TMZ says it stems from an alleged Sept. 18 incident in Tarrant County. The Herald Banner, syndicated on Yahoo Sports, reports that the warrant came from the Southlake Police Department. Royse City police told that paper an automated license plate reader flagged a wanted person traveling eastbound on Interstate 30 around 2:45 p.m. An officer confirmed the plate and made the stop. CBS News Texas adds that Smith’s brother rode in the vehicle.
Jail records show Smith went to the Hunt County Detention Center. TMZ reports he returns to court next month. Lakers Daily says his attorney, Justin A. Moore, stressed the presumption of innocence. None of the reports reviewed names the alleged victim or describes the underlying conduct. Smith is 40. He played 16 NBA seasons and won the 2016 title with Cleveland, per the Herald Banner. The reports reviewed describe an allegation. None reports a conviction.
Where The J.R. Smith Bodycam Video Came From
The outlets point to different publishers. TMZ says the California Post first published the bodycam video. Lakers Daily says the California Post obtained it, yet its own link points to a New York Post report. Fadeaway World embeds a post that credits the New York Post. The reports reviewed do not explain how the footage reached the press. Fadeaway World’s report includes no statement from the Royse City police department, Smith, or the officer about the clip. The stop happened in September, so Tuesday’s news centers on the release of the video. It does not involve a new arrest.
The Luka Doncic Trade Still Stings Mavericks Fans
The officer’s rant taps a grudge that has lasted since February 2025, when Dallas sent Doncic to Los Angeles in a deal that brought Anthony Davis to the Mavericks. Lakers Daily recalls that James said he did not believe the trade at first and had no role in the decision to trade Davis. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that James felt shocked by the Davis trade, did not take part in the decision, and saw the Doncic acquisition as a shift away from him being central to the franchise’s plans.
Lakers Daily is clear about the limits of the clip. The officer’s opinion does not show that James orchestrated the trade, and the video brings no new reporting on the negotiations. Fadeaway World claims that Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison contacted the Lakers first, citing a separate article. Treat that as Fadeaway’s claim, not a confirmed fact. No reaction from James appears in the coverage. Watch for three things. Smith’s court date arrives next month. Royse City police may address the clip. And James may respond to an officer who put him at the center of a traffic stop.
