Former New Orleans NBA star to make debut on APGA Golf Tour this week at TPC Louisiana
Following a 16-year NBA career, two-time NBA Champion J.R. Smith will compete in the Advocates Professional Golf Association event at TPC Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS —
Following a 16-year NBA career, two-time NBA Champion J.R. Smith decided to tackle another sport when he enrolled at North Carolina A&T and played for the men’s golf team from 2021-26.
The multi-sport phenom, who earned a bachelor’s degree from the HBCU in May, will take his golf game to a new level this week when he competes as an amateur at the inaugural Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Michael Eaves Classic & Celebrity Pro-Am Tuesday, July 28 – Wednesday, July 29 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana.
Smith will tee off at 9:10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28.
Eaves, an ESPN SportsCenter/golf anchor, seven-time Emmy Award winner and longtime APGA supporter serves as host of the inaugural 36-hole professional tournament with a 46-player field that will award an $8,000 prize to the winner from a $25,000 purse.
The tournament’s field also includes:
· Luis Gagne: Louisiana State University (L.S.U.) product and three-time U.S. Open competitor
· Marcus Byrd: 2025 Jeff Dailey APGA Tour Player of the Year and 11-time APGA winner
· Chase Johnson: Two-Time APGA Tour Player of the Year
· Willie Mack III: APGA’s winningest active player (19 APGA Tour titles).
Founded in 2010, the Advocates Professional Golf Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring an inclusive future through the game of golf.