Multiple outlets reported earlier today that Knicks coach Mike Woodson was considering banning his players from using Twitter during the season (presumably, the playoffs are OK, because from early indications, New York won’t be a participant). Prior to Wednesday’s loss to Houston — the Knicks’ 4th in a row at MSG — G JR Smith answered questions concerning a Twitter exchange with Detroit’s Brandon Jennings that’s apparently caught the attention of the league, as the New York Times’ Scott Cacciola explains :
In an escalating series of tweets, Smith appeared to threaten Jennings for picking on his younger brother, Chris, a guard with the Knicks. Speaking before Thursday’s game, J. R. Smith acknowledged he was upset, but he said the situation had gotten blown out of proportion.
“There’s a way to threaten somebody, and that’s not the way to publicly threaten someone,” said Smith, who missed the first five games of the season for violating the league’s drug policy. “I know Brandon. Brandon’s not that type of person, and I’m not that type of person. We had a pretty good relationship before this.”
“I’m always in trouble on Twitter,” he said. “I don’t know what it is. Trying to shake it.”
J. R. Smith’s feud with Jennings started Wednesday when Jennings took to Twitter and wrote, “Wait wait wait, JR Smith’s brother is in the NBA but @PoohJeter & @BBROWNLAU isn’t. Call me hater but not Rollin!!!”
J. R. Smith logged onto Twitter shortly after the Knicks’ victory over the Hawks and, without mentioning Jennings by name, seemed to blast him, writing that he had “no respect” for young players who “pop at the mouth.” Smith posted another message in which he wrote he might send some of his “street homies” to Detroit, presumably to confront Jennings. Smith punctuated the post with the hashtag “#DeadSerious.” The post was later deleted.