J.R. Smith is embracing his reputation as a shirtless champ despite what the detractors say, however presidential they may be.
The free-agent shooting guard was surprised by how much attention he received for celebrating his first title with the Cleveland Cavaliers without a shirt.
"I didn't think me not wearing a T-shirt was going to be as big as it was, but it got like that overnight," he told Jared Zwerling of NBPA.com. "It was crazy. ...
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"So I keep pushing it with selling the shirts. It's almost like a trademark now, with the way people see it now, especially since President Obama said something about it. It really went nuts. Honestly, since he said it, I started getting up with no shirt on."
Smith, who's opening a lifestyle store called Team Swish in his hometown of Millstone Township, N.J. at the end of the month, also acknowledged he's used to being put under the microscope for being a little bit different.
"Whatever I do, whatever I say seems to be a big deal to a lot of people for whatever reason. I wish I could explain it. But ever since I was little, I've always thought outside the box, whether it was putting tape on my facemask at high school football practice or wearing wristbands on my ankles. I've done a lot of crazy stuff," he added.
For all the hype, Smith's shirtless antics actually seem like some of the more normal things he's done.