Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
J.R. Smith has nine lives. Either that or he has inside information that could derail LeBron’s career. At this point, that’s the most logical conclusion I can draw from his incessant antics and his immunity from LeBron’s criticism.
With the exception of Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love, Smith is the only player remaining with LeBron from the 2016 title team. When the Cars acquired Rodney Hood off this season, it would be reasonable to assume that Hood would be thrown in the starting lineup, seeing as Smith’s dismal 39.4 shooting percentage from the field, 36.7 percent from 3, and his lowest scoring average since his second year in the league (8.3 ppg) wasn’t exactly resurrecting the struggling Cavs.
But Smith’s head-shaking flashes of greatness has [See: Game 6 2016 NBA Finals], have given him free reign in Cleveland and his latest controversy exemplifies that.
According to ESPN, the 32-year-old shooting guard earned his one-game suspension from the team Thursday for throwing a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones. Smith was absent from Thursday’s chippy home loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The team was initially ambitious with the reasoning, claiming it was simply “detrimental conduct.”
“He was great this morning,” Cavs Coach Tyronn Lue said before the game. “Something happened after shoot-around, so that’s all the details I’m going to give to you.”
But, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin dug up the real reason for the suspension, and it involved hot soup. The suspension cost Smith $94,897.
If Windhorst and McMenamin were next-level reporters, they would have found out what kind of soup was thrown. For a reason I can’t put my finger on, that information is important.
Smith will return to practice todayand resume his role as the starting shooting guard. But not before a good online razzing.
What’s the worst soup that JR Smith could throw at you?
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/RealLifeKaz/status/969595674500173825
JR Smith: “Hol’ up, if I’m suspended that mean I can’t play in the game?” pic.twitter.com/z4miAkj7JF
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) March 1, 2018
Two of these will protect you
The rest are coming to kill you:7 Eagles
12 Water Buffalos
3 Grizzly Bears
6 Silverback Gorillas
10,000 Rats
15 Wolves
25 Alligators
1 JR Smith Armed With Some Piping Hot Italian Wedding Soup— Céad Míle Fáilte (@ColeyMick) March 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/SheaSerrano/status/969599639338016768
https://twitter.com/OldPlayerTweets/status/969611526465359872
The Cavaliers should make a $94K donation (the amount of the JR Smith fine) to a soup kitchen in Cleveland.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 2, 2018
We have some marketing opportunities for you, @TheRealJRSmith. pic.twitter.com/9NDnsywnZi
— Stadium (@Stadium) March 2, 2018
JR Smith when he walks into practice today pic.twitter.com/c89jdv4ACt
— BIGPLAY CLE (@BIGPLAYcle) March 2, 2018
JR Smith out here playing bisque-it ball
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) March 2, 2018
The internet can be a great thing.
[h/t The Washington Post]