Before the Los Angeles Lakers ultimately decided to sign JR Smith following Avery Bradley's decision not to join the team in the NBA bubble, the veteran guard had been battling depression of sorts due to the fact he hadn't been in the league after playing in only 11 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018-19 campaign.

Smith's name has been linked with the Lakers ever since LeBron James signed with the team before last season. He was also considered one of those valuable veterans for teams ahead of the playoffs and may have been able to sign somewhere else even if the Lakers didn't bring him in.

However, the process of not having a team has taken a toll on the Lakers newcomer as he detailed on a Zoom call with L.A. media on Monday.

“Yeah, I went through a very depressed state for a long time,” Smith said of being in career limbo. “It lasted for a few months. I'm a big gamer, and I didn't even want to play 2K anymore. I don't want to hoop. I don't want to work out. I don't want to play 2K. I don't want to do anything with basketball. It was like a depression because for something that I loved and enjoyed for so long from my aspect of going from playing at the highest level, especially when you feel as though your career is not over and still premature.

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“It was tough. It was extremely tough, but fortunately, I have a great foundation with my parents. My dad has always been on me about what I accomplished and what I still have left in the tank and stuff like that, so, fortunately, if it wasn't for them, I would probably still be in that situation.”

Fortunately for Smith, the Lakers were willing to take a chance on him and could showcase him quite a bit during the team's time in the NBA bubble. Smith's relationship and knowing how to play alongside LeBron James will only help his chances of seeing the floor more often than not during the playoffs, which could result in another contract with Los Angeles or another team for next season.

In the meantime, Smith, much like all of his new teammates, will need to stay in shape and ready as the team prepares for what will be an unusual and unprecedented time in Orlando for the next few months.