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Come Fan with UsMonday, June 22, 2026

J.R. Smith is fine with you calling him ‘Kyrie’ if he’s paid enough

Can’t blame Smith for wanting more cash.

Kyrie Irving did return to the court for his first game of the season on Sunday, but he wasn't standing next to the sideline reporter for this interview.

Nope, that was J.R. Smith. He looks a tad annoyed for a second, but plays it cool with a joke.

“I’ll be Kyrie,” he says. “Let me get paid like Kyrie, too.”

Irving is making $16.4 million this year while Smith collects $5 million. Hmmm, he does have a point. Maybe it wasn’t a joke.

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