J.R. Smith calls Caitlyn Jenner 'that science project'

It seems J.R. Smith has yet to grasp this whole social media thing without creating a little controversy. Even when the Cleveland Cavaliers guard uses his thumbs to publicize good works, he still finds a way to stick his foot in his mouth.

Smith, who will play in game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday,  deleted a meme referring to Caitlyn Jenner as "that science project" on his Instagram shortly after posting it Wednesday.

"Shout out to Akon !" the image reads. "He is about to supply 600 million africans with solar power. Im really upset that this isnt major news but that science project bruce jenner is #Society"

Smith reposted the image with his own caption: "Hmmm... what's more important?"

Akon is about to supply 600 million africans with solar power & ya worried about Ms Jenner 😴😴😴 pic.twitter.com/Lf1c6ofxe2

— iG: PayDay3God (@PesosSlimeLova) June 3, 2015

The meme — which is a part of a trend where people compare Jenner to another news story as a way of ridiculing her gender change — compared Jenner with singer Akon's solar power initiative in Africa.

Tweets coming back to haunt Smith are nothing new to the oft-troubled player — especially during the playoffs.  In 2012, Smith was fined $25,000 for posting a picture of a woman in his bed wearing a thong.

Phil Jackson rips Knicks via Twitter after loss to Cavaliers

Phil Jackson apparently wasn't too happy with the Knicks' performance during a 101-83 blowout loss to the Cavaliers Sunday night. And afterwards, the Knicks president tweeted his feelings about the team he helped dismantle after the embarrassing defeat.

Late Sunday night, Jackson tweeted that the game gave the basketball gods " heartburn." He ended with the acronym "smh" — meaning "shake my head."

Today's game vs Cavs gave bb gods heartburn and those that know what "it" takes/means a smh.
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) February 23, 2015

It's especially ironic since the superior Cleveland team they lost to featured a couple of players Jackson traded away in January and who were making their first return visit to Madison Square Garden.

Adding to the Zen master's agita was the sight of those two former Knicks, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, hooking up on a spectacular alley-oop dunk:

The Knicks fell behind by 19 points in the first quarter and trailed by as many as 30 in the Pepto-inducing beatdown.

J.R. Smith posts farewell message to Knicks (PHOTO)

J.R. Smith was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, after four mostly tumultuous seasons with the franchise he calls his hometown team — the New York Knicks.

Smith, who was a standout high school player in New Jersey, loved playing for the team he fondly remembers growing up in Central Jersey — making this trade just a bit harder for him.

On Tuesday, Smith said farewell to the Knicks and his New York fans with an Instagram post:

I want to thank Mr. Dolan and the Knicks organization for giving me the opportunity to play for such a… http://t.co/y9xNUyeraI
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) January 6, 2015

"I want to thank Mr. Dolan and the Knicks organization for giving me the opportunity to play for such a storied franchise over the past few seasons. I want to thank my teammates for their support and guidance. Most importantly, I want thank the fans of New York who are some of the most passionate basketball fans in the world. Playing in my hometown has been incredibly special and I will be forever grateful for having had the chance to wear a Knicks uniform.

"Though I look forward to starting a new chapter in Cleveland to join some of the best talent in the game in the quest for an NBA Championship, this great experience in New York will always stay with me. 

"Thank you again, fans. Your support means the world."

Going from a floundering franchise to a playoff contender might help ease the pain.

Smith's first trip back to Madison Square Garden with Cavaliers will be on Feb. 22.

Trey Burke's buzzer-beater trumps Carmelo Anthony's trey with 2.3 seconds left (VIDEO)

Trey Burke made a buzzer-beating jumper from the corner to give the Utah Jazz a 102-100 victory Friday night over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, despite 46 points from Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony, who looked like he had a game-tying three-point shot with 2.3 seconds left in the game, was trumped by Burke after the sharpshooting guard hit a corner jumper at the buzzer to hand the Knicks their seventh straight loss.

Anthony did all he could, including the Knicks' final 11 points, but in the end it wasn't enough.

"I looked up," Anthony said, "and I was like, 'No, please.' I just wanted it to go to overtime."

Here's how the final 2.3 seconds played out with J.R Smith's stunned pose saying it all for Knicks fans:

Justin Verlander and Kate Upton take in Knicks game (PHOTOS)

The Knicks lost their sixth game in a row on Wednesday night — a 97-95 defeat by the Orlando Magic and are now 1-4 at Madison Square Garden.

But that doesn't seem to stop the team from drawing a stream of famous people to Celebrity Row.

That's right ... a Magic game.

For instance, Kate Upton and Justin Verlander made the scene:

And yes, that's New York's Global Welcome Ambassador and the Knicks' latest "biggest fan," Taylor Swift, in the front row too.

Great to have you on @douglaselliman Celebrity Row, @kateupton and @taylorswift!

A photo posted by New York Knicks 🏀 (@nyknicks) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:40pm PST

Too bad all those beautiful people can't make up for that ugly, last-second, 3-point attempt by J.R. Smith at the buzzer.

J.R. Smith takes shoelace prank to nightclub after benching (PHOTO)

J.R. Smith took his shoelace shenanigans to a Manhattan nightclub just hours after the Knicks guard was benched during the team's 102-92 victory against the Miami Heat Thursday night.

It didn't take long for Smith, who had just been fined $50K for ignoring the NBA's warning that untying opponents’ shoes during a game isn’t very nice, to venture down the hot spot 1Oak, and give a big finger to everyone over his shoelace scandal.

This is a picture posted from 1Oak, taken either late Thursday night or (more likely) early Friday morning, according to the N.Y. Post. And that’s the defiant Smith — who didn't play a single minute at Madison Square Garden because he messed around with two different opponents' shoelaces — attempting to untie some fellow club-goer’s shoe for fun.

And the mocking message he delivers to everyone — to his coach, the NBA, to his teammates, and to his dwindling posse of fans seems to be — untie me.

Oh my god. After being benched for untying shoe laces, J.R. went to One Oak last night and posed for this: pic.twitter.com/m9dKQCB3jC
— Jonah Kaner (@JonahKaner) January 10, 2014

Mike Woodson ready to 'punch' panic out of J.R. Smith

If you thought all of the talk of "panicking" from J.R. Smith has affected Mike Woodson's sense of humor — think again.

The Knicks head coach certainly didn’t enjoy some of Smith’s public negativity after recent Knicks losses to Indiana and Washington, but is taking it in stride.

After the heartbreaking loss against the Pacers Wednesday, Smith said: "Like you say, it’s too early to panic, but me, personally, I’m panicking. I don’t like this."

In Washington, Smith said he felt every possession is starting to feel packed with “pressure’’ and the team isn’t having fun and “overanalyzing.’’

When asked if he was irritated by Smith’s panic remark, Woodson said: “To be sitting here after 12 games talking about I’m in a panic stage, I might need to punch him out and get it out of his thought process.”

Woodson then smirked, but it wasn’t meant entirely as a big joke.

"I don't like players feeling that way," Woodson said before Monday night's loss to Portland when Smith scored only six points. "It's a long season. I've been around long enough to see where things can turn awfully fast."

Remember ... Woodson did have a smirk on his face. Let's see how long it lasts.

J.R. Smith reportedly driving around NYC in armored car

It looks like New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith is already finding ways to spend some of the money from his new $24 million deal with the NBA team.

According to the New York Post, Smith was seen driving up to the restaurant Catch in Manhattan's  Meatpacking District behind the wheel of a Gurkha F5 armored vehicle. 

Smith, who’s recovering after surgery on his left knee in the off-season, rolled up to the hotspot in the $450,000 ride — which is made by Toronto-based Terradyne Armored Vehicles and used by police and the military. Smith parked the oversize truck on the street while he dined inside.

Hummers are so passe.

Knicks signed J.R. Smith to three-year deal — not four as reported

The revelation about J.R. Smith's knee surgery on Monday had a lot of people wondering where the New York Knicks' school of thought was.

The team reportedly knew their Sixth Man of the Year needed surgery in May, got it done in July, needs four months of rehab and the season begins in October.

Did the Knicks hide the shooting guard's injury during his free-agency or were they kept in the dark?

Next time, do the math.

Now another little fib by the Knicks has leaked out via The New York Times and it also has to do with basic mathematics and defies logic.

Maybe the Knicks didn't necessarily lie about the length of J.R. Smith's new deal—originally reported to be for four years at $24.5 million with a player option for the 2016-2017 season—but they certainly didn't correct the misconception.

According to the Times:

The precise terms were confirmed Tuesday by a rival team executive and a second person with access to the contract. Despite the intense scrutiny of the deal, Knicks General Manager Glen Grunwald made no attempt to correct the erroneous reports during a 16-minute conference call with reporters Tuesday.

The contract calls for Smith to make $5.57 million next season and $5.98 million in 2014-15, with a third-year player option at $6.4 million. It is still a considerable commitment for a player with a checkered career and now a surgically repaired left knee. But Grunwald betrayed no concern on Tuesday. 

Grunwald initially danced around the issue of Smith's timing for Monday's knee surgery. Because the rehab is expected to take between 12 and 16 weeks, the beginning of Smith's 2013-2014 season is now up in the air.

Ultimately Grunwald conceded that it was Smith's decision (a player cannot be forced by a team to have surgery) and once it was determined that his left knee wasn't responding to rest, both Smith and the Knicks opted for surgery.

Obviously Smith's decision was complicated by his status as a free agent (he opted out of his previous contract).

In any case, Monday's surgery to repair his patella tendon and to correct a tear in the lateral meniscus in Smith's left knee was deemed successful and Grunwald insists he does not regret the decision to re-sign the troubling Smith.

Summer school is now in session.

J.R. Smith ready to sign four-year deal with Knicks: Report

J.R. Smith and the New York Knicks are hammering out a contract extension that will keep the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year with the team for another four years.

The deal could be completed by Thursday, reports The New York Daily News. Smith is expected to receive the “Average Player Salary Exception” which could amount to $24 million over four seasons.

According to the Daily News report,  the New York Knicks and Smith are finalizing a contract extension that will keep the shooting guard with the club until 2017.

Smith's signing assures the Knicks of having their top five players under contract next season — Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Iman Shumpert, Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler. Also, according to a basketball site in Argentina, the Knicks have offered Pablo Prigioni a two-year contract extension.

A person who spoke to the 35-year-old free agent point guard on Wednesday told The News that Prigioni “hopes” a deal is completed “real soon.” Prigioni is a priority because Jason Kidd retired, leaving Felton as the team’s only point guard under contract.

The 27-year-old Smith averaged a career-best 18.1 points last season in 80 games, all as a reserve, and it became the Knicks’ focus this summer to re-sign him.

For months, Smith had said his desire was to return to the Knicks. The former New Jersey prep star also had two influential power brokers in his corner: Garden Chairman James Dolan and Anthony, who was also Smith’s teammate with the Denver Nuggets.

Smith’s best season, however, ended on a down note. The troubled star slumped in the playoffs, averaging 14.3 points and shooting 27% on three-pointers. The Knicks’ postseason took an ugly turn when Smith was suspended one game for elbowing then-Celtic Jason Terry at the end of the Game 3 of their first-round series. Although the Knicks went on to defeat Boston in six games and capture their first playoff series win in 13 years, they went 3-6 in their last nine playoff games starting with Game 4 against the Celtics.

Smith would be willing to sign elsewhere only if he received a lucrative contract that the Knicks, because of salary-cap restrictions, are unable to match. But the deal Smith would receive from the Knicks is comparable to what shooting guards are receiving this year. 

J.R. Smith's Twitter tease to fans: 'Fun while it lasted'

J.R. Smith — with his New York Knicks status loosely in one hand and his iPhone tight in the other — caused a commotion among Knicks fans when he tweeted, "It was fun while it lasted," Friday afternoon.

Was the Knicks free-agent guard announcing his departure from the team less than 24 hours after the Knicks drafted Tim Hardaway Jr., a similar player? Or was Smith — who is well-known for  his outrageous tweets off the court— just teasing the Knicks faithful.

While only Smith knows for sure, the NBA's 2013 Sixth Man of the Year tweeted again soon after denying that the initial comment had anything to do with basketball.

“What y’all talking bout?” Smith wrote. “I’m talking bout the talk the cab driver an I just had!”

It was fun while it lasted...
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) June 28, 2013

What y'all talking bout? I'm talking bout the talk the cab driver an I just had! #FunnyDude
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) June 28, 2013

It wouldn't be the first time a tweet caused a commotion for Smith. Last year he was fined $25,000 by the NBA for posting a lewd naked photo of a woman and even pop star Rihanna, once a reported love interest, called him out on Instagram for partying too hard during the 2013 playoffs.

The Knicks, who have “early Bird rights” on Smith, only can offer him as much as $5.4 million per year. Teams under the cap — such as the Bucks, a rumored landing spot — can offer him more.

The 27-year-old Smith had a great regular season, averaging 18.1 points per game, but struggled mightily in the playoffs, averaging just 14.3 per contest on 33 percent shooting.

J.R. Smith played against Pacers with swollen left knee: Report

Carmelo Anthony wasn't the only New York Knicks star playing through an injury during the playoffs. For those wondering why J.R. Smith continued to shoot jumpers during his postseason slump as opposed to driving to the hoop, the answer might be related to his left knee more than his late nights.

Marc Berman of the New York Post:

Not only did Carmelo Anthony play with what an MRI exam Wednesday revealed was a partial tear in his left shoulder, but The Post has learned J.R. Smith's nightmarish playoff performance was partly because of a swollen left knee that contained fluid buildup.
According to a league source, Smith likely will have his knee drained of the fluid in the next two weeks — the same procedure Anthony underwent in March. So Smith's struggles weren't only about his sharp elbow in the Celtics series, alleged hangover and viral infection.

Smith had been playing with a swollen knee toward the end of the regular season, but talk about the injury seemed to stop during the playoffs.

Funny how his knee seemed fine when he was chasing Rihanna around the Manhattan nightclub scene that week.

Rihanna: J.R. Smith has been 'hungover from clubbing' during playoffs

Pop singer and noted club-goer Rihanna is saying what a lot of New York Knicks fans have been suspecting during J.R. Smith's playoff struggles — the Knicks sixth man has been hungover from clubbing.

In a comment on Instagram, the singer alleges that Smith is struggling because “his a** be hungover from clubbing every night during playoffs.” Smith has shot just 28.6 percent from the field since Game 5 of the first round series against the Celtics. The Knicks are down 3-1 and facing elimination heading into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals vs. the Pacers.

Before being suspended for elbowing Celtics guard Jason Terry in Game 3 of the first round, Smith seemed fine, shooting 48 percent, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range. Last week, Rihanna and Smith were pictured partying at Greenhouse, a club in Manhattan and it's been downhill ever since.

The two were rumored to be dating last year. Rihanna appeared to be replying to someone commenting on one of her photos when she outed Smith’s hard-partying exploits, reports The New York Post.

The full text read: “f--- you and your wack a** team!! Nobody want that desert thirsty n----!! He f----- up cus his ass be hungover from clubbing every night during playoffs!!”

The comment has since been deleted.

The Knicks and Pacers play Game 5 at Madison Square Garden Thursday night. Don't count on seeing Rihanna sitting in the celebrity seats behind the Knicks bench.

J.R. Smith questionable for Game 3 because of illness

New York Knicks sixth man J.R. Smith is questionable for Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night due to illness, the team said.

Smith did not participate in shootaround on Saturday morning, according to ESPN.com.

The extent and nature of his illness is unclear but Mike Woodson said Smith woke up with a 102-degree fever and was back with the team doctors at the hotel.

"I got to wait until I get back to see where he is," said the head coach. "We just got to gauge it. I don’t know if he’s going to play tonight. If he don’t, someone else has to step up."

Smith is mired in an extended shooting slump. He's missed 23 of 30 shots in the first two games of the series and has been the focus of the Knicks' woes.  Smith was accused of partying too late on Saturday before the opening game and was fined $5,000 by the NBA for taking a flop in the game.

Carmelo Anthony was a lot more confident, smirking when asked about possibly not having Smith tonight.

"J.R.’s going to play tonight," Anthony said about his teammate

If Smith can't play in Game 3, Iman Shumpert, Pablo Prigioni or Chris Copeland could see an increase in playing time.

I wonder if there is a quick cure for Rihanna-itis.

The series is tied at 1-1.

J.R. Smith parties with Rihanna after Knicks Game 2 victory

Keen eyed observers spotted New York Knicks star J.R. Smith getting up close and personal with pop singer Rihanna just hours after his team demolished the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden the other night.

Smith partied with the Barbadian beauty at the Manhattan celebrity hangout, Greenhouse, Tuesday night — and it looks like these meetings are becoming a recurring coincidence.  Rumors were flying among clubgoers that Smith was in a celebratory mood, and that Rihanna was trying to send a message to her abusive ex, Chris Brown.

It was the second time in five days the pair were publicly spotted comparing tattoos in the same club. On Saturday, they partied late at Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club — the night before Game 1 of the Knicks playoff series.

Greenhouse, coincidentally, shares the same building with W.i.P., the nightclub where Brown and his nemesis Drake engaged in a nasty brawl last year, presumably over Rihanna’s affection.

Rihanna with J.R. in the background

Smith was criticized for partying late Saturday night into Sunday morning — the night before Game 1 in the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals — after photos of the tattooed player swigging a bottle were posted on the Internet.  Smith was ineffective the first two games but denied that he was out clubbing.

First an for most I wasn't clubbing before the game so y'all can kill that. Don't try an find reasons when I miss shots! #HopOff
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) May 5, 2013

If it's Rihanna keeping the slumping Smith out late, more power to him.  At least the Pacers think so.

J.R. Smith offers 'Bandwagon Transferral' form to his Game 1 detractors

J.R. Smith's less than robust performance during the New York Knicks 102-95 loss to the Indiana Pacers, in Game 1 of their playoff series at Madison Square Garden Sunday, did little to quell rumors that the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year was out late partying at Manhattan's 40/40 Club Saturday night.

Photos and videos of the Knicks guard draining a bottle of some sort of libation — while enjoying the Mayweather fight the night before the opening game — were posted on the Internet fueling speculation about Smith's dedication to winning.

Smith was a dismal 4-of-15 and 2-of-6 from outside the arch in 34 minutes of play. After the Pacers had their way with him pretty much the whole game, Smith finally showed a little defense and went after who else — his detractors.

Smith denied he was "clubbing" on Twitter and the @team wish Instagram handle posted this "Official NBA Bandwagon Transferral Form" as a warning to all of his haters.

First an for most I wasn't clubbing before the game so y'all can kill that. Don't try an find reasons when I miss shots! #HopOff
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) May 5, 2013

Here y'all go! instagram.com/p/Y8wDhltfPe/
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) May 5, 2013

An entertaining series just got even better. Keep those tweets and Instagrams coming J.R. You might want to send some of those forms out to Brooklyn too.

J.R. Smith posterizes Jeff Green and lets crowd know about it

The New York Knicks' most entertaining tweeter, J.R. Smith, did all his talking on the court Saturday and beefed up his Sixth Man of the Year credentials to boot. The New Jersey product slam-dunked a beauty over Celtics forward Jeff Green during the Knicks hard fought 85-78 win in Game 1 of the their first-round NBA playoff matchup at Madison Square Garden.

Smith came off the bench to help the Knicks hold the Celtics to a measly eight points in the last quarter and had the crowd roaring after his dunk.

After the slam, Smith wasn't shy about posterizing Green either. Let the video do the talking — Smith will surely tweet about it later.

J.R. Smith ordered to pay $48,000 for 'stolen' Black Jesus bling

A judge has ruled on a jewelry company's claim that New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith stole some jewelry including a chain with a diamond-studded Afro-American rendition of Jesus Christ hanging from it.  The judge ordered the NBA star to pay back $48,000 for the bling.

A jewelry company called Lemmerman's just won the lawsuit for the reportedly purloined chain, two Black Jesus pendants and some earrings — totaling $25,500 — but never paid for back in 2010, according to TMZ.

The one Jesus pendant and chain cost roughly $15,000 by itself, said the gossip site.

Lemmerman's sued the Knicks star — who has a Black Jesus tattooed on the left side of his chest — for $48,101.  The settlement included the jewelry bill, interest and attorney's fees — but Smith never responded to the suit.

The former New Jersey prep star has been ordered to pay back the money ASAP but it's understandable that he isn't returning calls. The Knicks are on a 13-game win streak, so Smith's head may up in the heavens somewhere.

But out of all the things someone would steal ... come on.

J.R. Smith questions Knicks' hearts not their knees

The New York Knicks are dealing with knee problems to three of their key players, but J.R. Smith is more concerned about another part of the body as the team continues to stumble towards the back end of a five-game road-to-ruin swing.

"We got to checkout our heart right now," said the Knicks guard. "We either got to compete or pack up and go home. It's just that simple."

The Knicks have dropped the first three games of their west coast tour by an average of 22 points and the prognosis doesn't look any better without Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire in the mix together for at least a while.

Smith held up his end of the deal against the Trailblazers — pouring in 33 points.  But it wasn't enough.

"I don't mind losing," Smith said . "But if we just go out there and get demolished , that's a problem, especially when you're supposed to be considered one of the best teams in you division and your conference. It's just not a good look for us."

The Knicks' Atlantic division lead over the Nets is down to one game and dwindling. They close out the west coast tour with games against the Clippers and Jazz.

J.R. Smith thinks he belongs on the All-Star team

J.R. Smith is aiming for something more than winning this year's NBA Sixth Man Award and has publicly gone on record by saying he should be considered for All-Star selection for the first time in his career.

The New York Knicks super-sub point guard — backing it up with a five-game streak of 20 points or more — spoke out about being selected for the elite team fresh from his spectacular reverse alley-oop dunk against the Spurs on Thursday.

"My eyes are on being an All-star, honestly," Smith told The New York Post after Thursday's convincing 100-83 win.  "I'm not focusing on Sixth man.  Sixth Man is more long-term, honestly, end of year.  My individual goal right now is All-Star, then I'll think about the Sixth Man.  I'm trying to be that All-Star coming off the bench for my team."

Combine that dunk with a couple of December buzzer-beaters and Smith has a good argument for joining the All-Stars, if not only for his flair for the dramatic.

Smith is not on the All-Star fan ballot and it is rare for a player coming off the bench to make the squad but, if he keeps making the most of his minutes, an All-Star berth could be in the cards.  The final decision will be up to the coaches — who have until Jan. 24 to cast their votes.

The former New Jersey high school prep star is averaging 16.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 33 minutes and his defense has shown more tenacity than ever before.

More importantly, Smith has put his bad habits and worse reputation behind him. No more partying or tweeting pictures of naked women.

"It's about keeping myself inside the gym more than anything," Smith said.  "I'm more focused and right now it's paying off."