INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Following the Cleveland Cavaliers' shootaround session Saturday in preparation for this evening's game against the Atlanta Hawks, J.R. Smith was forced to address allegations that he choked a 19-year-old last week in New York.
"First of all, things aren't being reported the right way," Smith said, "but the team and I have spoken. We had conversations with coach [David Blatt], [general manager David] Griff and some of the players. I just don't want to be a distraction to anybody else and I've just got to move forward."
The New York Daily News reported Friday that Smith allegedly choked a high school student who was heckling him early Friday morning in Chelsea, a neighborhood on the city's west side.