JR Smith returned to New York with a vengeance a few weeks ago as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the New York Daily News is reporting that Smith may have given a student the business near a pizza shop, after the guy made of him being traded.
Smith has been accused of choking a 19-year-old high school student in Chelsea after the younger man quipped about the hoopster’s trade to Cleveland.
Smith, 30, has not been arrested in connection to the alleged incident outside Artichoke Basille’s Pizza about 4 a.m. on Nov. 13 at W. 17th St. and Tenth Ave.
The teen, Justin Brown, who wears braces and hails from Harlem, was with pals who chided Smith for ignoring their fan request for a photo.
Smith is seen on a cell phone video walking away from the group, sources said.
“That’s why New York kicked you out, yo!” Brown remarked.
Brown told cops that after the verbal brush, Smith, who is 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, checked him against the exterior of the building and put his hands around Brown’s neck, police sources said.
Alex Spiro, a lawyer for Smith, said the claims against the athlete are unfounded.
Witnesses and a cell-phone video can reportedly prove that Smith jacked the young man. I’m not going to play like JR gripped up some 12-year-old.
JR Smith shouldn’t put his hands on anybody, but at 19-years-old, you should probably think twice before trying to clown someone in public if you’re not prepared for the consequences.