Former NBA player Joe Smith, who was once the #1 draft pick, has recently made headlines in the US due to his wife's decision to create an OnlyFans account featuring erotic pictures. A video of her alongside him, proposing the idea while he vehemently objected, went viral and shed light on his troubling circumstances.
Smith now reveals that he was in the depths of depression during a low point in his life when he lost his entire fortune, leaving him with a mere $3,000 in his bank account. Smith earned his astounding $61 million throughout a 16-year career, making his monumental downfall even more shocking.
In an interview, Smith opened up about the difficult period he experienced, stating, "It was a very low point in my life. I was deeply depressed and mentally confused. There was no doubt about it."
Smith recounted his participation in the CNBC reality show Back in the Game, hosted by former baseball star Alex Rodriguez, which aimed to mentor former athletes facing financial struggles.
However, Smith claims that the program was more focused on boosting ratings than providing genuine assistance, as he felt abandoned once filming concluded.
"They promised me help," he disclosed, "but as soon as the cameras stopped rolling, they disappeared. I couldn't get in touch with anyone from the show. So, I eventually gave up."
Smith, who admits that the reality of his retirement from the NBA hasn't fully sunk in yet, emphasized the importance of athletes sharing their stories with the next generation.
Ex NBA player Joe Smith finds out his wife has an Only Fan pic.twitter.com/DFHA1mI0y1
— SHO’NUFF (@IAMSHO_NUFF) October 30, 2023
The power forward's last stint was with the Lakers in 2011. Records indicate that he earned a staggering $61 million throughout his career, yet after accounting for taxes, agent fees, and management expenses, Smith confesses that he only retained approximately $18 million.
In October, the public became aware of his financial struggles when his wife disclosed that she turned to OnlyFans due to their desperate need for money. A video obtained by TMZ captured the couple engaged in a heated argument over the situation, with Smith expressing his shock and disappointment, stating, "I can't believe I'm just finding out about your OnlyFans page after all these years. The disrespect... You could have discussed it with me before taking such a step."