JR Smith: Playing with LeBron 'a gift and a curse'

JR Smith says being on the same team as LeBron James can be a double-edged sword.

Smith, who was teammates with James on both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, discussed the pressure of playing with The King in an appearance on "Game Theory with Bomani Jones."

"Honestly, it's a gift and a curse playing with Bron," Smith said. "I love Bron to death and I love playing on his team because for me, I feel like I thrive more under the pressure. But a lot of guys don't like it because it can go one of two ways."

Smith explained that James' teammates will often be blamed for what they did or didn't do in a game, which he doesn't think is entirely fair.

"He missed a free throw too. Don't just look at me because I missed an open shot. We all missing out here," he said. "And I think for a lot of guys, it's hard to - especially with the day and age we in, social media ... you got analysts running around, talking crazy. And you playing on that team and I think they're what, 12th or 13th? And they still the most talked-about team on TV.

"So it's always gonna be that supporting cast of 'who's not doing what,' and if you're not built for that, you not made for that, it's gonna eat you alive."

The Lakers are in 11th place in the Western Conference but will be without James for at least three weeks as he recovers from a tendon injury in his right foot.