JR Smith Unsure He Will Play on Opening Night

Having recently undergone left knee surgery, which was expected to sideline him for 3 to 4 months, JR Smith remains unsure about his return to the court. Per Newsday: “He walked without a brace Thursday — his hair now a very dark shade of red — but said he’s uncertain if he’ll be ready for the beginning of the season. ‘It’s still too early to tell from what I hear from the doc and all that, but I hope so,’ he said before The J.R. Smith Youth Foundation golf tournament at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. ‘I want to be there opening night. I want to start training camp off with my team and my new teammates.’ Smith, who averaged a career-high 18.1 points and 5.3 rebounds last season, re-signed with the Knicks in July for three years and roughly $18 million. Just days later, it was revealed that he would require knee surgery. Smith said he played through pain last season although doctors recommended he sit out two or three games. ‘I hate to be the guy in the gym watching everyone else play,’ he said. ‘I wanted to play through it no matter what.’ He didn’t want to use the knee as an excuse for his struggles in the Knicks’ loss to the Pacers in the playoffs, a series in which he shot only 29 percent from the floor and averaged 13.5 points in six games. Smith said he thought the knee would feel better with time off this summer, but when there was no sign of improvement, he and his doctor decided that surgery was the best option. Smith said his rehab currently includes pool workouts and riding a bike, but there’s no timetable for when he’ll be able to join his teammates on the court.”