Smith will now face five-game suspension to start the season.
New York Knicks sixth man J.R. Smith has been suspended by the NBA for five games after violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
As reported by Yahoo! Sports NBA columnist Adrian Wojnarowski, the league have decided to hand the 27-year-old a five-game ban after sources reported he had tested positive for marijuana.
The NBA have now made a formal announcement confirming the decision on their official website, and it will come as a huge disappointment for Knicks coach Mike Woodson.
Smith signed a three-year deal worth €18m per season in July, but then underwent knee surgery soon after which is likely to see him ruled out for the start of the season regardless.
However, his absence will be a blow for the Knicks after he averaged 18.1 points per game last season, although he was disappointing in the play-offs as they crashed out to the Indiana Pacers in the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference.
Smith has had his issues in the past, but it was believed that a return to New York where he is close to his family would have him focused on matters on the court.
It will also come as an embarrassing turn of events after he recently engaged in a war of words with Brooklyn Nets new arrival Paul Pierce.
The former Boston Celtics man had riled his rival with comments suggesting that the Nets were ready to take over New York this year, but Smith was defiant although he will now face a spell away from the court for reasons not related to his injury.
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