New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith took a break from tweeting photographs of his girlfriend's rump to chuck Pacers guard Leandro Barbosa to the court during a Tuesday night game at Indiana.
Smith was ejected from Tuesday night's game with 10 seconds to play and the game already decided. Smith appeared to take exception to Barbosa celebrating with Paul George in front of Smith after a late dunk. Smith and Barbosa then tussled on their way downcourt and fought for rebounding position after an Iman Shumpert miss. As Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony grabbed the rebound, Smith swung Barbosa to the court with two arms and was hit with a flagrant foul 2 and immediately ejected from the game.
Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson took Smith to task after the game
“I’ll sit down and talk to J.R. and tell him you got to be a little more professional,’’ he said, according to HoopsWorld.com. “Maybe I should’ve pulled him. I didn’t. But I’ll talk to him because that was unprofessional I think.’’
No doubt. It was a completely unnecessary and frustrated action. The New York Times reports that Smith will not be suspended for the play. Smith could still be fined by the NBA. Smith was hit by the NBA with a $25,000 fine for posting "inappropriate pictures" on his Twitter account back in March.
Smith, 26, joined the Knicks in February after playing in the Chinese Basketball Association during the lockout. He is averaging 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 24.7 minutes per game off New York's bench this season.
Hat tip: ProBasketballTalk | Video via YouTube user MrBasketUSA
