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J.R. Smith re-signs with Knicks
Photo credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams, Jr. | J.R. Smith looks on in the first quarter of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. (May 5, 2013)
J.R. Smith officially re-signed with the Knicks Thursday.
The NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year inked a four-year deal for roughly $25 million. The fourth year is a player option.
“Re-signing J.R. was one of our primary goals this offseason and we are thrilled to have him back,” Knicks executive vice president and general manager Glen Grunwald said in a statement. “He made great strides this past season with his consistent play off the bench for us, and we look forward to his continued growth.”
Smith had his best season of his nine-year NBA career playing for coach Mike Woodson.
Providing instant everything off the bench, Smith averaged a career-high 18.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 33.5 minutes in 80 games last season. He became the third Knick to win the Sixth Man of the Year award, joining Anthony Mason and John Starks.
Smith also earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the period ending Mar. 31, after posting three consecutive 30-point efforts off the bench, becoming the first NBA player to accomplish the feat in over 23 years.
In the playoffs, Smith struggled after getting ejected and ultimately suspended one game for throwing an elbow at Boston’s Jason Terry in Game 3 of the Knicks-Celtics’ first-round series.
After Smith returned in Game 5, he averaged 13.5 points and shot 26 percent from three in the Knicks’ remaining eight playoff games.
Tags: Knicks , J.R. Smith , Anthony Mason , John Starks , Jason Terry , Mike Woodson , Glen Grunwald
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