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MOSTMAGAZINEAfter his first year in Ibiza, LaRon accepted a major contract in Uruguay, but the season made him realize something important%u2014he couldn%u2019t be without his wife. That realization led him back to Ibiza, where they got married and began building their life together. To compensate for the financial sacrifices he made by choosing to stay in Spain, they opened several businesses on the island. Now, he enjoys the best of both worlds%u2014playing professional basketball while living in a paradise with his wife.Beyond club basketball, LaRon also represents the Virgin Islands Men%u2019s National Team. Competing in World Cup Qualifiers and America Cup games, he has gone head-to-head with powerhouse teams like Canada, the USA, Brazil, and Venezuela. His impact on the court has been undeniable%u2014leading all countries in blocked shots per game and ranking among the top ten in rebounds per game. Having played in nearly every country in South America and Canada, he%u2019s left his mark on the international basketball scene.LaRon Smith%u2019s story is one of perseverance, love, and the power of embracing unexpected opportunities. From the courts of China to the beaches of Ibiza, his journey is a testament to the unpredictability of life%u2014and the incredible places it can take you when you%u2019re willing to take the leap.Q: YOU%u2019VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY PLAYING BASKETBALL ACROSS THE WORLD. LOOKING BACK, WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR CAREER? A: I think the most rewarding part of my career is the experience %u2014 experiencing different cultures around the world, actually living in new environments, and adapting to everyday lifestyles. Being able to appreciate life more and stay humble because I%u2019ve personally seen worse%u2026 that, in itself, is the biggest reward to me. Meeting different people has also been amazing. I was just casually out with friends, met someone new, and now I%u2019m answering questions to be in an amazing magazine. Life is crazy overseas! Q: PLAYING IN SO MANY COUNTRIES MUST HAVE BEEN A CULTURE SHOCK AT TIMES. WHICH PLACE CHALLENGED YOU THE MOST, AND WHY? A: I would have to say Sweden. I lived in the most northern part of the country, and the cold was unbearable %u2014 haha. They have specially made jackets and gear to survive being that close to the North Pole. When I first got there, it was all water. By October, it had frozen solid and we could actually walk across it to town %u2014 wild! Even if you can mentally prepare for the cold, nothing could prepare a Caribbean islander like me for the lack of sunlight. In the winter, the sun is out for like 4 hours a day. I%u2019d go to practice in the morning, and by the time I got out at 12 p.m., it was pitch black. I had never seen anything like it! Don%u2019t get me wrong though %u2014 Sweden is a beautiful country with beautiful, kind people. Q: YOU FACED UNIMAGINABLE LOSS WITH YOUR BROTHER%u2019S PASSING. HOW DID YOU FIND THE STRENGTH TO CONTINUE YOUR CAREER? A: Man, that was so tough. Keep in mind %u2014 this was my twin brother. I did everything with him growing up. I even started playing basketball because I wanted to be better than him at everything. We were very competitive and pushed each other to be our best. Getting that phone call in the middle of the night%u2026 it%u2019s something I wouldn%u2019t wish on my worst enemies.The way I was able to cope and keep playing was because basketball was all I knew. It helped me forget my problems. Being overseas helped with that too %u2014 I was around people who didn%u2019t know anything about me, so it was easy to give myself a false reality, to the point I even forgot I used to be a twin. Don%u2019t get me wrong %u2014 it was an extremely tough time for me, but I quickly realized that life goes on, and it waits for no one. This was my way of grieving.40 MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 77