WATCH: J.R. Smith gets emotional talking about his father after Game 7

The choked-up guard gets an applause from the media after comments about his father

By James Herbert

Jun 20, 2016 at 1:13 am ET • 3 min read

Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith became an NBA champion on Sunday with a 93-89 win over the Golden State Warriors, and while he was not the star of the game, he was absolutely the star of the interview room. Smith was moved to tears at his press conference after scoring 12 points in the Game 7 victory, as a reporter asked him if he ever thought he was going to reach this point.

"I thought about it a lot, honestly, getting to this point," Smith said. "The more my career went on, it kind of dwindled, and it was more about just playing the game. I've been playing this game, fortunately for me, since I was three years old. That's one of the reasons why this game is so special to me. Today is so special to me. It's on Father's Day. My dad put the ball in my crib."

Smith was at a loss for words after that, and a reporter followed up with a question about his father's role in his life. After Smith finished answering, some media members clapped for him. Watch:

Smith's answer, in full:

"I mean, my parents, my family, that's the biggest inspiration in my life. I've been in a lot of dark spots in my life, and if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be able to get out of it. But they are who they are. They fought with me. They yelled at me, they screamed at me, they loved me, they hugged me, they cried with me, and they always stuck by my side no matter right or wrong.

"I know a lot of people don't have their parents in their life, their mother, their father, but I've got the best two you could ask for, I swear. There's six of us, and they didn't treat any of us different. They loved us the same. They treated us all the same, and I just wanted to be like them when I grow up.

"I mean, my dad is easily one of my biggest inspirations to play this game. To hear people talk bad about me, it hurts me because I know it hurts him, and that's not who I am. And I know he raised better, and I know I want to do better. Just everything I do is for my parents and my family. I mean, I don't really -- the cars are nice, the houses are nice, but none of this matters without them. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here. I don't know where I would be, honestly. If it wasn't for them, if it wasn't for the structure and the backbone that I have, I wouldn't be able to mess up and keep coming back and being able to sit in front of you as a world champion."

Smith was drafted straight out of high school in 2004. After two seasons, the Hornets traded him to the Bulls, who traded him less than a week later to the Nuggets for next to nothing. Smith spent five seasons in Denver, went to China during the 2011 lockout and returned to join the Knicks and win Sixth Man of the Year in 2013. His New York tenure ended badly, though, and many considered him a throw-in when the Cavaliers acquired him last season.

Throughout his career, the 30-year-old Smith has been known more for partying and frustrating coaches than for being one of the best 3-point shooters in basketball. He has been criticized for his approach to the game, his aversion to defense and his quotes. In Smith's 12th year in the league, though, he played the best defense of his life and won a ring. Perhaps some people will never take him seriously, but nobody can take this off his resumé. Watching Smith talk about what this means to him and his family, it's impossible not to be happy for him.

Smith, by the way, will be a free agent in less than two weeks. The good times aren't over -- he is on the verge of signing the biggest contract of his career.