New York, NY – J.R. Smith of the New York Knicks received a five-game suspension without pay for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti- Drug Program.
Smith's suspension will begin with the first game of the 2013-14 season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.
The Knicks re-signed Smith to a three-year contract in July. Smith, however, is recovering from offseason knee surgery and might not be ready for the start of the regular season.
Smith, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, averaged 18.1 points and 5.3 rebounds while coming off the bench for all 80 games he appeared in last season. The nine-year pro led all league reserves in scoring, 30-point games (seven) and 20-point efforts (29), while his point total ranked second to NBA scoring champ Carmelo Anthony among members of the Atlantic Division champion Knicks.
The 27-year-old Smith added 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game as an integral part of a New York squad that posted its highest win total (54) since 1996-97 and claimed the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks lost to the Pacers in the conference semifinals.
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