J.R. Smith asked for a starting role, but Mike Woodson believes that the mercurial guard’s talents are best utilized coming off the bench. J.R. claimed he would accept the coach’s decision, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t ‘disappointed’ not to be a part of the Knicks starting core.
“Disappointed is an understatement,” Smith said.
“My whole process of getting better this summer and everything I went through was to be in that starting role,” Smith added. “It was great to be able to have put all that work in and understand what I can do and my body can withhold without starting. I think it just makes our bench even stronger.”
Smith may get a chance to start initially, Iman Shumpert and Ronnie Brewer are both out with injury, while yesterday it was announced that Smith’s younger brother, Chris, will miss three-to-six months after he undergoes surgery to repair his patella tendon in his left knee Thursday morning.