What do you get when you put Simone Biles, David Ross and J.R. Smith in a room together? The unpredictable energy that defined 2016.
Sarah Spain: J.R., I know you were at some of those Cubs-Indians games in the World Series. Was it a little frosty at first when you saw David today?
J.R. Smith: No, I was actually worried about his safety being in Cleveland [where the photo shoot took place] right now. I thought I had to be a bodyguard.
SS: What’s the thing you hear most often when people meet you?
JRS: “Where is your million-dollar shirt?” I’m like, “It’s underneath these $25 Hanes T-shirts I’ve got on.”
SS: What about you, Simone?
Simone Biles: “You look taller on TV.” I get that all the time. I know they think I’m taller because it’s so close and I look stretched out, but I’m just 4-8.
SS: You don’t look very tall on TV either, honey. What do you hear most, David?
David Ross: “You’re really not that old.” You know, the old grandpa thing—Grandpa Rossy with KB [Kris Bryant] and Rizz [Anthony Rizzo]. That’s how everyone treats me. Then I got back to my hometown, and everyone is like, “I wish I could retire at 39.” So they put it in perspective.
JRS: He’ll be on my slow-pitch softball team.
DR: Yeah, now we’re talking.
JRS: My pinch-runner right here [Biles], she’s gonna do real good.
This story is from the December 26,2016 edition of ESPN The Magazine.
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This story is from the December 26,2016 edition of ESPN The Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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