Knicks Guard J.R Smith Fined $25,000 For Hostile Tweet

Twitter usually is a free service, unless you are J.R. Smith.

The Knicks’ shooting guard and social media gadfly on Friday was was fined $25,000 for the second time in 18 months for violating NBA rules concerning social media — this time for “directing hostile and inappropriate language to another player via his Twitter account.”

Smith, who also was fined the same amount in March of 2012 for posting an inappropriate photo of a woman, engaged in a Twitter war of words this week with Detroit guard Brandon Jennings. Smith was sticking up for his younger brother and fellow Knicks guard, Chris Smith, of whom Jennings had tweeted on Tuesday night: “Wait wait wait JR Smith brother in the NBA but @POOHJETER & @BBROWNLAU isn't. Call me hater but not Rollin!!!” Jennings, who later deleted that tweet, was referring to Eugene (Pooh) Jeter and Bobby Brown.

When asked earlier that night about James Dolan’s guarantee of a victory in Atlanta, J.R. Smith said he was unaware of the owner's boast, in part, because “lately I’ve been off the social media.”

But Smith, who was suspended for the first five games of this season for violating the NBA’s drug policy, fired back at Jennings on Twitter in defense of his brother, saying he has “no respect” for “lil kids who pop at the mouth on twitter” and then “delete their tweets.” Shortly thereafter, Smith also tweeted, “Might call some of my Number street homies an put #Detroit on smash for a min! #DeadSerious.”

Asked Thursday whether he intended to threaten Jennings with that message, Smith replied, “No. There’s a way to threaten somebody and that’s not the way to publicly threaten somebody.” But the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man Award winner did acknowledge he’s tired of the constant criticism of his brother, who many believe made the Knicks roster as a package deal with his older sibling.

“It happens every day, people criticizing (Chris), talking about what he deserves and doesn’t deserve,” J.R. Smith said. "I think he works hard for what he does and whoever doesn’t like it, doesn’t like it. . . . I was definitely frustrated. You get tired of people trying to pick on your little brother. It’s my little brother — I am going to step up for him good, bad or ugly. It’s not just Brandon. It’s anyone who says anything about him.”

Speaking on his weekly spot on ESPN Radio on Friday, Mike Woodson said he had met with the Smiths about the incident. One night earlier, Woodson acknowledged he will consider installing a team policy about using social media.

“I was not happy about that, and that’s why we had a behind-the-door meeting with (J.R. Smith) and Chris, because it’s ridiculous,” the coach said. “There’s got to come a time where you stop putting yourself in that position.

“I don’t know what’s going to come of it if anything becomes of it, but you can’t keep putting yourself in that position. It’s going to come a time when you keep doing it, eventually no team is going to want to deal with you. You got to learn from it. Those are the things where I’m trying to get this young man to.”

Clippers forward Matt Barnes also was fined $25,000 for an ejection earlier this week against Oklahoma City and an inappropriate tweet: “I love my teammates like family, but I'm DONE standing up for these n-----! All this s--- does is cost me money.” Barnes later deleted the tweet and issued an apology.



Watch what you say #DeadSerious

$25,000 for a hostile tweet?




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