J.R. Smith accused of choking teen who joked about his trade to Cavs
A teenager was mouthing off and teasing former Knicks guard J.R. Smith about his being traded to the Cavaliers when Smith allegedly lost his temper and choked the high school student.
A teenager was mouthing off and teasing former Knicks guard J.R. Smith about his being traded to the Cavaliers when Smith allegedly lost his temper and choked the high school student.
The incident reportedly took place outside Artichoke Basille’s Pizza. Smith was in town to play a game against his former team when the teen, Justin Brown, and his friends began to needle Smith for ignoring their request for a picture with him.
In cell phone video of the moment of teasing, Smith can be seen turning his back on the group of teens and walking away as Brown is heard to say, “That’s why New York kicked you out, yo!”
According to Brown, Smith then turned and grabbed him, pushing him against the building and putting his hands around Brown’s neck.
Brown’s lawyer Leon Jacobson said that Brown was a “sweet” kid who “did nothing to deserve this attack.”
“Using your physical dominance to inflict pain and instill fear into somebody who is clearly weaker than you is unacceptable in any context, but there is something sick about doing it to a kid asking you to take a picture with him,” he said.
Smith has since taken to Twitter to refute the accusations, tweeting out, “Don’t believe everything you read!” on Friday night.
