J.R. Smith is tired of being the sixth man. Always a bridesmaid never a bride? After winning the 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year award, Smith is ready for the spotlight. As the New York Knicks head into the 2013 season, Mike Woodson is busy letting players earn the remaining starting roles up for grabs. While Smith has yet to make it on the court, he is making it clear he wants to be a starter.
Woodson plans on changing the two point guard offense he ran last year. That leaves Smith and Iman Shumpert competing for the starting shooting guard spot in the lineup. While Shumpert has the edge based on playing time, Smith wants his shot.
"I've always wanted to start. Everybody knows that," Smith said, via ESPNNewYork.com. "I won the Sixth Man [Award] last year, so I felt as though there's nothing left to prove at the sixth-man spot. But at the same time, if that's what my team needs me to do, that's what I'll do. If Coach wants me to be a sixth man, I'll be a sixth man. If he wants me to start, I'll start. That's up to him."
Smith has not played a minute of preseason basketball after undergoing offseason knee surgery once he signed a contract extension with the team. He is hoping to see some playing time in the final game before the regular season starters up. However, Shumpert will likely be the starter in the team's opening game as Smith must serve a five-game suspension after violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Smith understands he is competing for the final spot in the lineup. He is not going to push himself to get on the court sooner rather than later in hopes of avoiding any setbacks, but he is eager to show Woodson what he can do. After signing a three-year, $18 million extension, Smith is ready to prove why he earned that money.
"When [Woodson] decides to make the choice we both have to live with it, between myself and Shump," Smith said. "It's a competition at this point, he's winning. He's healthy, he's able to play. When I'm back ready, I'll be ready."
Woodson has made it clear that both Smith and Shumpert have an equal shot at getting the starting spot. While Shumpert is a strong perimeter defender, Smith is a better scorer. Before Woodson can make his decision, he needs to see which player improved the most on defense. He wants the lineup to be more aggressive and he is hoping Smith can step up.
