J.R. Smith, one game into his Chinese Basketball Association career, is embroiled in drama. As if it could be any other way.
Smith suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter of his Zheijiang Golden Bulls' blowout loss to Yi Jianlian's Guangdong Tigers. He wanted to go back to Beijing to have it checked out by a private doctor. His team told him to stay put until the team's medical staff checked him out. Smith ignored them and flew to Beijing. The team's GM and Smith settled the dispute as all disputes should be settled: in an internet flame war.
The Wall Street Journal's Loretta Chao summarizes:
Mr. Zhao posted a warning to Mr. Smith on Sina Weibo on Monday afternoon, saying the player should return to team as soon as possible "or face the consequences." Mr. Smith responded in English less than an hour later, "My main goal is to get healthy! If you can't understand that then maybe you should pick another profession!"
He added that his goal is "not to leave! My goal is to win!"
Somewhere, George Karl is laughing his head. How do you say "someone else's problem" in Mandarin?