Chris Smith, the younger brother of New York Knicks swingman JR Smith, has become somewhat of a punchline around the NBA this season. Knicks head coach Mike Woodson essentially admitted earlier this year that JR’s presence on the team’s roster influenced their decision to keep Chris around. Chris has been inactive for the first seven games of the seaosn and is expected to spend the majority of the season in the D-League.
On Wednesday night, Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings sent out a tweet asking why his buddies can’t be in the NBA if Chris Smith is. He later deleted it.
“Wait wait wait JR smith brother is in the NBA but @PoohJeter & @BBROWNLAU isn’t,” Jennings wrote, via Pro Basketball Talk. “Call me hater but not Rollin!!!”
As you might expect, JR did not find the comment humorous. He initially sent out a tweet threatening to “call some of my (sic) street homies and put a smash on Detroit,” but later deleted the threat. Smith then sent the following tweet.
No respect for these lil kids who pop at the mouth on twitter an then want to delete they tweets! #GrowUp! #ManUp! @TheOnlyCSmith0 #Facts!
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) November 14, 2013
After the internet began buzzing about how Smith and Jennings were in a classic Twitter beef, Jennings denied that any war was going on. Smith agreed — kind of, but not really.
Don't hype this it's not beef. It's just basketball talk. I know how twitter get!!!
— BRANDON JENNINGS (@BrandonJennings) November 14, 2013
No war! But ain't no #peace RT @TheOnlyCSmith0: I'm a classy no twitter war for me
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) November 14, 2013
Here we go sub tweeting again! I didn't hear nothing when @joshselby32 got in them pockets! Money on me all day everyday go get who u want!
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) November 14, 2013
As Pro Basketball Talk’s Dan Feldman noted, Smith was likely referring to when Josh Selby dunked on Jennings during a 2011 Goodman League game.
Can’t we all just get along? JR has been known to get himself in trouble on Twitter, but you can’t blame him for sticking up for his brother. Whether Chris deserves to be on the Knicks roster or not, he’s still family to JR.
