Ex-Knick J.R. Smith Admits He Feels Insulted, Disrespected By Trade To Cavs
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- He's hours away from playing in the NBA Finals.
Meanwhile, his former team is coming off its worst season in franchise history and is once again the laughingstock of the NBA.
Who saw this coming?!
J.R. Smith -- who was traded to the Cavaliers in January -- admitted on Wednesday that he was insulted and felt disrespected when Knicks president Phil Jackson dealt him along with Iman Shumpert.
"Absolutely, to hear I was a throw-in to the trade just to get you off the books and for us to go over there and thrive, I think that's absolutely how I feel," the 29-year-old shooting guard said.
After the Cavaliers defeated the Bulls in the second round of the playoffs, Smith took a shot at his former team on Instagram.
Both Smith and Shumpert have played great for Cleveland in the run to the Finals. The former is averaging 13.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game this postseason. He's also completed 39.6 percent of his three-point attempts.
"It's a dream come true, to be in the Finals and be in this situation," Smith said. "Going from the worst team to the best team, or one of the best teams, it's unbelievable. It's hard to put into words.
"But we talk about it often. We just hope we make the best of the situation ... You have to take advantage of it."
Game 1 of the NBA Finals will tip-off on Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. in Oakland.