New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith has been suspended five games without pay by the NBA, the league announced Friday, for violating the league anti-drug program.
The ban will begin with the first game of the 2013-2014 season in which Smith is physically able to perform, which is an issue in his case because the 27-year-old American underwent left knee surgery in July.
No details were revealed about what substance Smith used to incur the ban, which will cost him about $253,000 of the $5.6 million he is set to be paid next season under a $17.9 million contract extension signed earlier this year.
Smith was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year last season as the league’s top reserve player after coming off the Knicks’ bench to produce a career-high 18.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
Smith has been suspended before, missing 10 games in 2006 as part of an on-court brawl and seven games in 2009 after pleading guilty to reckless driving.
The knee injury is expected to sideline Smith for most of training camp but there is a chance he might be healthy and start his suspension at the Knicks’ opener October 30 at home against Milwaukee.
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