NBA

Knicks’ Woodson high on ‘professional’ Smith

SAN ANTONIO — Knicks coach Mike Woodson vowed last season to make J.R. Smith “more professional’’ and a better player and better person. Mission accomplished.

Woodson said Smith is surging in all areas. Last spring, Woodson got on Smith about wearing his “sagging’’ jeans — a hip-hop look in which his underwear shows — to the arena. There was Smith late Tuesday night in the visiting locker room in Orlando, donning a suit, his baby daughter in his arms, showing her off to teammates.

“You see how he dresses when he comes to the games now,’’ Woodson said Wednesday. “He looks very professional. He’s in a suit. It’s beautiful to see, man. That’s not to say he doesn’t wear jeans and do some of things he was doing. That’s a start. I like everything about him. There’s something there I like. I’m going to make sure he’s successful.’’

Smith, who came to New York with a reputation as a troublemaker and lived up to it with his tweet of a naked woman in his hotel room last season, is on a serious tear as the Knicks’ sixth man. He is averaging 18.2 points, has scored 20 or more in three of the last four games and is an unconscious 13-of-18 from 3-point land.

Woodson took to Smith immediately last season. They even play golf together on the road on occasion.

“He’s accepted his role,’’ Woodson said. “He’s really more professional about his approach this year. That has a lot to do with it. He feels good about himself. He’s taken full advantage of his playing time. He’s more focused and serious about his approach.’’

Smith expressed extreme disappointment he wouldn’t start this season but said this week, “I’m loving it.’’

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After the Nets lost to the Spurs in the 2003 NBA Finals, Jason Kidd became a free agent and was courted by San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich to potentially replace Tony Parker. Kidd remained in Jersey.

Asked how close he was to being a Spur, Kidd said, “Very. Very close. If it wasn’t for the fact I thought I could win a championship in New Jersey, I would’ve came here. I thought we had a chance to still win but it just didn’t work out that way.’’

Kidd’s minutes have fluctuated through five games. He got his most playing time — 32 minutes — in keying the win in Orlando on Tuesday after playing his least in the prior game vs. Dallas (15).

“Whatever minutes [Woodson] needs me to play,’’ said Kidd, who has started at shooting guard. “If I need to play 15, 30, whatever he needs me. I could play 40 if I have to. The minutes, it’s just when I’m on the floor, be productive.’’

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Ronnie Brewer (knee swelling) sat out practice, with his whole leg wrapped in a compression pad but is listed as probable. Woodson said he may reduce his minutes for now. Brewer had knee surgery in early September. … Rasheed Wallace has missed his last 13 3-point attempts across three games but is getting more minutes than Marcus Camby, who played just 3:50 vs. the Magic, and Kurt Thomas did not play for the second straight game. Wallace was 0-for-5 on 3-pointers.

“He had great looks,’’ Woodson said. “I’ll put my money every time on Rasheed on that shot when he’s wide open. He’ll start to make them.’’