Knicks News: JR Smith talks 2013 Sixth Man Award, Julius Randle gives back to NYC

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: J.R. Smith #8 of the New York Knicks plays against the Indiana Pacers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 7, 2013 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: J.R. Smith #8 of the New York Knicks plays against the Indiana Pacers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 7, 2013 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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It’s been 10 years since JR Smith won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2013. Since then, he’s won an NBA championship in Cleveland and enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University after a 16-year career in the league.

Most know Smith for what he accomplished alongside LeBron James and the Cavaliers in 2016, but Knicks fans know him for the three and a half seasons that he spent in New York. During his Sixth Man season, he averaged a career-high 18.1 points and a career-high 5.3 rebounds in 33.5 minutes throughout 80 games.

In a recent interview with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Smith talked about the 2012-13 season where the Knicks came up short against the Pacers in the semifinals. He said, “That was one of the few teams where we used to go everywhere as a team that I’ve been on.”

As for being named the Sixth Man of the Year, Smith said: “I felt like that Sixth Man of the Year was about to catapult me to stardom or an All-Star level type of situation.

More Knicks News

  • Julius Randle visited the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School on Tuesday with an $880,000 check as part of his “30 for 3” initiative. In November of 2021, Randle said that for every three-pointer he made, he would donate $500. Additional donations were added on top of Randle’s donation to help the school not only stay open but hire literacy enhancement teachers as well.
  • Randle suffered a sprained left ankle in New York’s 101-92 win over Miami on Wednesday. He didn’t return in the second half. The Knicks play in Cleveland on Friday. Tom Thibodeau said Randle would be further evaluated on Thursday.
  • Kevin Garnett said that if Damian Lillard is traded to the Knicks, the star guard would go down as one of the greatest to play the game.

NBA News

  • Kevin Durant made his return to the court on Wednesday after being sidelined with a sprained ankle. In a 107-100 win over Minnesota, Durant finished with 16 points (5-of-18), eight rebounds, and four assists in 29 minutes for Phoenix in his home debut.
  • With their 120-80 win over the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the Kings clinched their first playoff berth since 2006.
  • Russell Westbrook became the first player in history to post 30+ points and 10 assists in at least one game for five different teams in the Clippers’ 141-132 win over the Grizzlies on Wednesday. He finished with 36 points (13-of-18), 10 assists, and four rebounds in 36 minutes.
  • Shams Charania of The Athletic confirmed on Tuesday that Ben Simmons would remain out for the remainder of the season due to his back issue. He played in 42 games (33 starts) for the Nets this season.
  • Donovan Mitchell scored his 10,000th career point in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 120-118 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday. He reached the milestone in 410 games.