JR Smith Reportedly Benched for Complaining About Playing Time

According to multiple reports, Knicks head coach Mike Woodson placed JR Smith in his doghouse following an argument about minutes. Oh, the irony. Per the NY Daily News and NY Post:

J.R. Smith’s benching in Charlotte Tuesday night may have been a direct result of Smith sitting most of the overtime in Monday’s win over Phoenix. According to a source, Smith was vocal with coach Mike Woodson about not starting the extra session against Phoenix after missing what would have been a game-winning shot at the end of regulation.

Smith did not start overtime and went in as sub with 47.2 seconds left and came back out with 2.2 seconds left. Smith did not play in the loss to the Bobcats on Tuesday night and spent most of the night sulking on the end of the bench. It was the second time in four games where Woodson benched Smith, who was fined $50,000 last week by the NBA for unsportsmanlike behavior.

J.R. Smith was bellyaching on the bench to his Knicks teammates about not playing during Monday’s overtime session against the Suns, according to an eyewitness. The source said Smith appeared “disconnected” during overtime and reportedly also was late for a team meeting in the hotel before the Knicks faced Charlotte on Tuesday.