People
- J. D. Smith (fullback, born 1936), American football player
- James Smith (Australian rules footballer) (1899–1974), Australian rules footballer for the Richmond Football Club
- James Smith (boxer) (born 1953), American boxer, nicknamed "Bonecrusher"
- James Smith (footballer, born 1844) (1844–1876), Scottish footballer who played in the first official international football match
- James Smith (footballer, born 1873) (1873–?), Scottish footballer
- James Smith (footballer, born 1908) (1908–1956), English left back who played for Doncaster Rovers, Lincoln City, and Bradford City
- Jimmy Smith (footballer, born 1930) (1930–2022), English footballer for Chelsea and Leyton Orient
- James Smith (footballer, born 1985), English football player (Southport)
- James Smith (Scottish footballer) (active 1922), Scottish football player (Port Vale)
- James Smith (sports media figure) (born 1959), American boxer and host of In This Corner
- James Aikman Smith (1859–1931), Scottish rugby union player and referee
- James Crosbie Smith (1894–1980), English cricketer
- James R. Smith (1904–1986), American water polo player and coach
- Steve Smith (ice hockey, born April 30, 1963), Scottish-born Canadian ice hockey player
- James W. Smith (horse trainer) (1908–1969), American horse trainer
- James Smith (Leicestershire cricketer) (born 1977), English cricketer
- James Smith (New South Wales cricketer) (1880–1958), Australian cricketer
- James Smith (South Australia cricketer) (born 1988), Australian cricketer
- James Smith (Kent cricketer) (active 1792–1796), English cricketer
- James Smith (New Zealand cricketer) (1891–1971), New Zealand cricketer
- James Smith (sport shooter) (1931–2021), American Olympic shooter
- Jimmy Snuka (James Wiley Smith, 1943–2017), Fijian wrestler
- James Smith (Gaelic footballer) (born 1999), Irish Gaelic footballer
- James Smith (runner) (born 1913), American middle-distance runner who finished second in the 1500 m at the 1937 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
- James Smith (American football) (born 2005), American football player
- James Smith (Medal of Honor, 1864) (1826–1881), Medal of Honor recipient in the American Civil War
- James Smith (Medal of Honor, 1872) (1838–?), Medal of Honor recipient for peacetime actions
- James A. Smith (Medal of Honor) (1880–1944), Medal of Honor recipient in the Boxer Rebellion
- James Smith (VC) (1871–1946), English recipient of the Victoria Cross
- James Argyle Smith (1831–1901), Confederate general in the American Civil War
- James Edward Smith (politician) (1831–1892), mayor of Toronto
- James A. Smith (Canadian politician) (1911–1993), Canadian member of parliament
- James Smith (Yukon politician) (1919–2017), former commissioner of the Yukon Territory (1966–1976)
- James Bidwell Smith, MLA in Saskatchewan
- James Smith (New South Wales politician) (1887–1962), former member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
- James Thorneloe Smith (1825–1902), engineer and politician in Queensland, Australia
- James Francis Smith (politician) (1844–1908), New South Wales politician
- James Joynton Smith (1858–1943), Australian politician
- James Smith (1806–1868), lawyer, judge, and political figure in Quebec
- James Smith (Canada West politician) (1811–1874), lawyer, judge, and politician in Canada West
- James Sinclair Smith (1816–1897), Scottish-born Canadian politician
- James A. Smith (Canadian politician) (1911–1993), Canadian member of parliament
- James Smith (New South Wales politician) (1887–1962), former member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
- James Thorneloe Smith (1825–1902), engineer and politician in Queensland, Australia
- James Francis Smith (politician) (1844–1908), New South Wales politician
- James Joynton Smith (1858–1943), Australian politician
Other uses
- James Smith Cree Nation, located in Saskatchewan, Canada, includes the James Smith 100 Indian reserve.
- James Smith & Sons is an umbrella shop located in London.
- Sir James Smith's School is a secondary school in Camelford, North Cornwall, England.