When the Knicks arrived to begin training camp Dennis Smith Jr. expected big things from himself, the same as the team did after David Fizdale’s top assistant, Keith Smart, spent time working with Smith to refine his outside shot.
But even before the regular season began, a procession of minor injuries slowed him. Then a family tragedy took him out of action for 12 days. The coach he spent the summer working with was let go, along with Fizdale earlier this month. And finally, climbing up the depth chart he thought he was back this week.
Then, working out late Monday night after the Knicks loss to the Wizards, he felt a tweak in his abdomen.