JR Smith was suspended for Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers for what Tyronn Lue called “insubordination,” but it sounds like that was a huge understatement from the Cleveland Cavaliers head coach.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports that Smith earned the suspension by throwing a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones during an argument this week. Smith is expected to return to practice on Friday and assume his role as Cleveland’s starting shooting guard against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.
Jones is a former journeyman who played for the Cavs for a few seasons, and he has been with the team in a coaching capacity since 2014.
Previous reports indicated that Smith was upset when he learned Rodney Hood would be taking his starting position in the lineup. The veteran swingman was said to have gone AWOL, but it sounds like a lot happened before his disappearance.
Smith is averaging just 8.3 points per game this season and is shooting below 40 percent from the field, but he has still started 56 games.
