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J.R. Smith was ticked during training camp. The enigmatic yet supremely talented Smith wanted to finally be an NBA starter and was crushed when coach Mike Woodson sat down with him with the news he would be the team’s Sixth Man. It couldn’t have worked out any better for Smith, who received the Sixth Man Award yesterday during a press conference at the Knicks’ Tarrytown facility. “I’ve been known as a selfish player for so long, I wanted to show my teammates I could be a team guy and it’s all about the team,” Smith said. “[Woodson] always told me it’s not who starts. It’s who finishes the game and 99 percent of the time I’m finishing.’’ New York Post

New York Knicks, JR Smith 

"Coach Woody and I talk so much, our communication is, not a day goes by where we don't have a conversation about the way I am playing or off the court or whatever it is," Smith said. "He's just such an influence as a coach, the most I've ever had." Newsday

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, JR Smith 

Smith spoke a few hours after Woodson gave him a "big hug" and told him things have a way of working out in life, and 90 minutes after the coach told reporters how proud he is. "He didn't like it, but he bought in," Woodson said. "It couldn't happen to a better person because he put in the time and he worked his butt off to get to this point and he got rewarded for it and I'm happy for him." Newsday

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, JR Smith 

Well, during a "SportsCenter" segment on Monday discussing his Sixth Man Award, Smith said that New York is where he wants to finish his career. "Without a doubt," Smith said. "I was born in New Jersey, born and raised. I would love to retire a Knick." ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Free Agency, JR Smith 

Al Iannazzone: JR Smith credits vets Kidd, Wallace, Kurt, Camby and Kenyon for keeping him in line this year. Twitter @Al_Iannazzone

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace, Kenyon Martin, Jason Kidd, Kurt Thomas, JR Smith, Marcus Camby 

Chris Herring: Smith on contract situation: "I'm not really worried about that right now." Twitter @HerringWSJ

New York Knicks, Free Agency, JR Smith 

"Couldn't have happened to a better guy," Woodson said. "I'm so proud of him, in terms of buying into what we wanted him to do earlier in the season. And it started this summer. I wasn't going to start him, coming into this year, and I knew that. And he bought in. He didn't like it, but he bought in. And it couldn't have happened to a better person, because he put in the time and he worked his butt off to get to this point, and he got rewarded for it. I'm happy for him." NBA.com

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, JR Smith 

J.R. Smith, who was never enthralled with being a back-up, has been named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year, according to a league source. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, JR Smith 

J.R. Smith has 100 tattoos, including Yankees and Devils logos. If the Knicks break their 40-year championship drought, Smith vowed to add orange-and-blue ink to his body for No. 101. Yes, a Knicks tattoo could be coming, even though he is a free agent this summer. “If we win a championship, I’ll definitely get it,’’ Smith told The Post. “Other than that, I’m not sure yet.’’ New York Post

New York Knicks, Free Agency, JR Smith 

Eleven years after they played in the Jordan Brand Classic at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire sat courtside at Barclays Center to watch the next generation of future NBA stars on display in the 2013 Jordan Classic. The two Knicks stars were joined by a star-studded group that included teammate J.R. Smith, C.C. Sabathia, Spike Lee, Worldwide Wes and Drake, who later performed a concert. Michael Jordan himself sat up in the stands, but was not allowed to meet the players because he’s an NBA owner and rules prohibit it. SheridanHoops

New York Knicks, Draft, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith, Andrew Wiggins 

Don't mess with Black Jesus ... or YOU WILL PAY ... just ask Knicks stud J.R. Smith, whose ass just lost a $48,000 lawsuit involving a diamond necklace that features an Afro-American rendition of the messiah. A jewelry company called Lemmerman's sued Smith, claiming he ordered a bunch of bling back in 2010 -- including a diamond chain, two Black Jesus pendants and some earrings -- totaling $25,500 ... but never paid. We're told one Jesus pendant and chain cost roughly $15,000 alone. TMZ.com

New York Knicks, Law, JR Smith 

Lemmerman's sued for $48,101 -- which includes the jewelry bill plus interest and attorney's fees -- but Smith never responded to the suit ... so a judge ruled in Lemmerman's favor. TMZ.com

New York Knicks, Law, JR Smith 

NBA New York Knicks: .@TheRealJRSmith's reaction to Kenyon Martin's injury: "I was hoping it wasn't his knee. Was relieved that it wasn't." #Knicks Twitter

New York Knicks, Kenyon Martin, Injuries, JR Smith 

So with this little run that you have been on, where does it rank in your career over a 10-15 game span? JR Smith: “This is the best I think I have played right now. Every game has been inconsistent and I’ve been known as an inconsistent player. I am just tired of hearing that. I just want to be as consistent as I can be to help my teammates and gives us the best chance to win.” Sports Radio Interviews

New York Knicks, JR Smith 

This season, the 6-foot-8 forward is tied for a league-high seven games in which he's scored 40 points or more. But a slight pattern has often emerged whenever Anthony gets in a scoring groove: The players around him typically make shots at a lower percentage as those games progress. The Knicks shoot 45%—which is right at the league average—as a team, and normally shoot slightly better in first halves (46%) than they do in second halves (44%). The numbers are far more disparate, however, when looking at how the Knicks' role players shoot when Anthony catches fire. Anthony's teammates have shot 47% in first halves during Anthony's best-scoring performances, but just 41% on the back end of those games. The role players' collective shooting percentage in those games falls even further in the second half, to 38%, when you take J.R. Smith—a sixth man who's about as fearless offensively as Anthony—out of the equation. Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith 

Kenyon Martin got in Ivan Johnson’s face after he and J.R. Smith got tangled up. Martin said he told Johnson: “not here, not today.” Martin has always been one to get his teammates’ back. It’s another example of the toughness he brings to the Knicks. “You know what I do, man,” Martin said. “I’ve got to protect my guys. Him and J.R. got tangled up or what not and I just let him know, ‘Not here, not today.’ It won’t go past today. It’s just basketball. Sulia

Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Kenyon Martin, JR Smith, Ivan Johnson 

New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith and the Utah Jazz's Al Jefferson today were named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 25 through Sunday, March 31. Smith led the Knicks to a 4-0 week which included two wins over the Boston Celtics and a win vs. the Memphis Grizzlies. Smith averaged 29.8 points (second in the league), 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals. He had three consecutive 30-plus point performances off the bench to open the week, including a season-high 37 on March 29 during a 111-102 win vs. the Charlotte Bobcats. The last NBA player to score 30-or-more off the bench in three consecutive games was the Milwaukee Bucks' Ricky Pierce in 1990. USA Today Sports

New York Knicks, Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson, JR Smith 

Chris Herring: Melo: "I've probably played with [Smith] for nine seasons out of my 10 yrs in the league. ... I've never seen him locked in like this." Twitter @HerringWSJ

New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith 

Mike Woodson is getting the most out of @TheRealJRSmith, who he said is playing the best he's ever seen him play. But the relationship between coach and energetic scorer is still, well, let's say, unique. "We have a funny relationship, honestly," Smith said. "It’s crazy. Off the court it’s like father-son. On the court we bump heads sometimes. He cusses me out, I cuss him out and we just go from there. By the end of the timeout we’re on the same page. It’s fun. I love playing for him." Sulia

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, JR Smith 

Howard Beck: Kenyon on JR Smith: "I don’t know what he’s eating for breakfast or dinner or whatever it is, but we need him to keep doing it." Twitter @HowardBeckNYT

New York Knicks, Kenyon Martin, JR Smith