Ex-NBA guard JR Smith makes golf debut with North Carolina A&T

BURLINGTON, N.C. -- JR Smith couldn't help but feel anxious.

Sure, he had spent 16 years playing in the NBA, making millions and winning two world championships in packed arenas at the highest level of a global sport. But he had never been in the situation like he was Monday: Lining up tee shots as a 36-year-old freshman walk-on playing his first college golf tournament for North Carolina A&T at Elon's Phoenix Invitational.

"I was nervous, I was," said Smith, who shot a 12-over-par 83 in Round 1 and then a 7-over 78 in Round 2. "I didn't really know what to expect."

That's easy to understand considering how massive of a change it represents for Smith. Exactly one year earlier, to the day, he…