The Players’ Association is mulling whether to appeal J.R. Smith’s latest $50,000 NBA fine for “recurring instances of unsportsmanlike conduct’’ violations, according to a league source.
One legal argument, according to a source, would be that Smith didn’t untie the shoelaces of Detroit’s Greg Monroe, and it was unclear if he touched them as Monroe stepped away. Smith’s intent on the second violation would one of interpretation. The argument would be Smith should only be fined for the first violation in Dallas with Shawn Marion.
Nevertheless, new footage is out from Friday’s game against the Rockets in which Smith is shown untying the shoelaces of Dwight Howard, who returned the favor and untied Smith’s shoes. Smith said Thursday night the Monroe incident was “a joke gone wrong.’’
The NBA statement on the fine said Smith had “recurring instances of unsportsmanlike conduct’’ and “attempted to repeat the action’’ against the Pistons after a warning from the incident versus the Mavericks. The statement didn’t mention anything about Howard.