The team announced Monday that Smith, the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, had patella tendon surgery and arthroscopy on his left knee that likely will keep him out for 12-16 weeks.The team said the operation was performed Monday by Dr. Answorth Allen at the Hospital for Special Surgery.“The injuries were chronic and gradually worsened,” the Knicks said in a statement.The news comes on the same day that Metta World Peace announced he had signed a two-year deal with the Knicks and just four days after the Knicks announced that Smith signed a four-year deal that will pay him about $25 million, raising the question of why they signed him to such a lucrative deal knowing he had a knee injury.
“Re-signing J.R. was one of our primary goals this offseason and we are thrilled to have him back,” Knicks GM Glen Grunwald said last week. “He made great strides this past season with his consistent play off the bench for us, and we look forward to his continued growth.”
He averaged 18.1 points during the regular season, second on the team behind Carmelo Anthony.
late September.