‘And He’s Over There Screaming Because That S--- Is Hot’: J.R. Smith Opens Up About Throwing Soup on His Coach

Also in Traina Thoughts: New ‘SI Media With Jimmy Traina’ podcast; Kyle Brandt becomes Will Levis; NFL team teasing big uniform news and more.

1. “I’ve always wanted to ask you this. Why did you throw the soup?”

That was JJ Redick to J.R. Smith on the latest edition of Redick’s The Old Man and the Three podcast.

I’ve been writing a daily online column since 2007 and one of my all-time favorite stories ever came in ’18 when then Cavaliers forward J.R. Smith was suspended after he threw soup on assistant coach Damon Jones.

Smith explained to Redick what happened on that day.

“Damon Jones is my guy,” said Smith. “I love DJones. Everybody knows. But he has a knack for playing too much. I like to play a little joke here and there, but he’s consistent with it. And for me, if I’m telling you I’m not in the mood right now … I had some stuff going on at home; I wasn’t playing well. I’m like, not right now.

“Sure enough I’m in the lunch room getting my soup and he comes in, and mind you, the soup was hot. I’m like the first person in there. He’s like, trying to make me spill it. I’m not gonna lie, it took me a second because I actually thought about it. It wasn’t like a rageful throw. It was like, ‘O.K., you’re playing with me. I know you’re playing with me. I’m gonna show you.’ And I literally thought about it. And I threw it on him. And he’s over there screaming because that s--- is hot.”

I’m like, ‘See, you wanna stop playing now with me? You wanna stop playing?’”

I need to pause Smith’s explanation right here to point out the sheer brilliance of the sentence, “And he’s over there screaming because that s--- is hot.”

YES. IT’S SOUP. OF COURSE, IT’S HOT. THAT’S WHY YOU DON’T THROW IT ON PEOPLE.

O.K., let’s get back to Smith.

“Sure enough, the next day he comes up, apologizes. Says, ‘Hey, man, you know you’re right. I do play too much.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, I don’t mind you playing, but when I tell you stop playing with me because I’m not in the mood just stop playing with me.’”

Redick then showed why he just got nominated for an Emmy and asked the question we all wanted to know the answer to.

“What kind of soup was it? he asked Smith.

“Chicken tortilla, one of my favorites,” answered Smith.

“Cream-based or tomato-based?” asked Redick.

“Tomato-based,” responded Smith.

What a perfect ending.

2. This week’s SI Media With Jimmy Traina is a really good one. Jim Nantz joined me to talk about the Masters, his final NCAA tournament and some NFL topics.

Did Nantz poke fun at LIV by cracking a “CW” joke? Did CBS snub Phil Mickelson during the final round? What does Nantz think about all the criticism levied at his partner Tony Romo?

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.

You can also watch SI Media with Jimmy Traina on YouTube.

3. The Bulls put together a compilation of all the Raptors’ missed free throws, complete with the high-level screams of DeMar DeRozan’s daughter Diar from Chicago’s 109–105 comeback win Wednesday. Not a smart karma play, if you ask me.

4. Kentucky quarterback and draft prospect Will Levis enjoys working out, drinking coffee with mayo and eating bananas with the skin on.

On Wednesday’s Good Morning Football, Kyle Brandt did his best Will Levis, and it was something else.

5. It sure looks like the Buccaneers are going to bring back the awesome creamsicle uniforms for the upcoming season and all I can say is HALLELUJAH! 

🔜 🧡 pic.twitter.com/YXg14XzCER

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 12, 2023

6. If you’re an Office fan, you will love this.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Sorry, I can’t stop posting Logan Roy videos this week. This compilation I saw on TikTok was too good not to share. 

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.