On the sidelines of a protest after George Floyd’s death Sunday in Los Angeles, former Knicks and Cleveland player JR Smith, 34, was filmed violently punching a man in the street. After the video was released, the NBA star defended himself by claiming that the person had broken the window of his truck.
The United States under high tension. Since the tragic death of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, the climate has been very tense across the Atlantic where violent protests are multiplying in many cities. That was the case again Sunday in Los Angeles where an incident involved former NBA star JR Smith. On a street in a residential neighborhood near an area where shops were looted, the former Cleveland player was filmed violently beating a man. The basketball player hit him several times, including kicking while the man was on the ground. After a final punch, the man was able to flee while two people tried to calm JR Smith. The video of the scene broadcast by TMZ quickly circulated on social media.
JR Smith fights a man for breaking his window during the LA protests #la #tmz #TheyKnowInfo pic.twitter.com/NkMpyrHAFZ
— TheyKnowInfo (@TheyKnowInfo) May 31, 2020
“Not a gesture of hate”
Anticipating the controversy, the 34-year-old was quick to give the reasons for his bloodshed: “I’d rather tell you before you see this mess elsewhere: one of those fucking white kids didn’t know what he was doing, and he broke the window of my truck,” explained the player, who is currently without a club. It’s a residential area, there are no shops around here, nothing! He broke my window. I ran after him, and I broke his face.” JR Smith said it was not a “hate gesture.” “I have no problem with anyone as long as people don’t have to worry about me. I have a problem with the fucking system, that’s all,” Jr Smith concluded.
JR Smith responds to the video of his encounter with a looter. Real one. pic.twitter.com/WXhwnOxn9I
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 31, 2020
