Last November, J.R. Smith was reportedly involved in an incident outside of a New York nightclub. According to Justin Brown, then 19, Smith declined a request for a photo before choking and hitting him in the head and neck area.
Now, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Brown is suing the Cleveland Cavaliers guard for $2.5 million. He is claiming physical injuries and emotional distress.
After the Cavs’ win against the New York Knicks, Smith declined commenting on the actual situation. Instead, he had the following to say:
“No, I ain’t got no comment on that,” Smith said. “It is what it is. So, we’ll just see what happens.”
“I mean, the organization has been great since I got here,” he said. “Whether it was that or anything else, they’ve been unbelievable, so I’m grateful for that.”
Smith’s attorney had a more direct quote about his client’s incident:
“If they have the audacity to file a frivolous claim against J.R., we will counterclaim for defamation and defend the suit aggressively,” said Alex Spiro, Smith’s attorney. “This was a cash grab from the start.”
The nightclub where the incident allegedly occurred, named 1Oak, is the same one where Chris Copeland was stabbed in an incident the same night Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha were involved in an altercation with the police.
