J.R. Smith Fighting With Chinese Team?
It’s unclear how severe Mr. (J.R.) Smith’s injury is. Zhao Bing, the Golden Bulls’ general manager, said the player repeatedly declined medical treatment from the team and arranged his own treatment in Beijing instead. “We warned him that he’s not allowed to go to Beijing without a proper medical check,” Mr. Zhao said, expressing his displeasure at Mr. Smith’s disobedience. “He just wouldn’t listen.”
Mr. Smith is “an experienced basketball player and a big name in NBA,” Mr. Zhao said. But “I think he should have been aware that CBA is not an easy game to play either.”
Mr. Smith is one of a number of NBA players who have gone overseas to play in the wake of disagreements with the American league over issues including revenue sharing that resulted in lockout on July 1. But while in other leagues, players have been able to negotiate opt-out clauses in their contracts, the CBA has required that NBA players complete a full season in China.
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