Former Knicks swingman J.R. Smith was caught on a video posted Sunday beating up an unidentified man, who allegedly vandalized Smith’s car during the George Floyd-fueled protests in Los Angeles, according to TMZ.
The 34-year-old Smith is captured kicking the man multiple times on the ground, before unleashing a big punch to the person he claims smashed his car window.
Smith, a New Jersey native who went unsigned this season after a 15-year NBA career, later justified the violence in a video on social media. He noted that his car was parked in a residential area.
“I just want y’all to know right now, before you see this s—t right now, one of these motherf—king white boys didn’t know where he was going and broke my f—king window in my truck,” Smith said. “Broke my s—t. This is a residential area. There wasn’t any stores over here. …. I chased him down and whooped his ass. This ain’t no hate crime. I ain’t got no problem with anybody. It’s a problem with the motherf—king system. That’s it. … He didn’t know whose window he broke and he got his ass whooped.”
As Smith’s friends attempted to keep onlookers from recording the incident, the unidentified man ran away. According to TMZ Sports, the fight took place near a sneaker store, which had been looted during the protest.
Smith did not face any criminal charges as of Sunday.
Source: NYPost
