JR Smith reacts to Stephen A. Smith's criticism of wearing a hoodie

A very odd exchange by the NBA star and ESPN television personality....

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News 01 Nov 2017, 10:29 IST

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JR Smith is having a rough start to the 2017-18 season only averaging 5.4 PPG...

What's the story?

Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith fired back at ESPN First Take's Stephen A. Smith with a series of tweets following the criticism Stephen displayed towards JR regarding wearing a hoodie during pregame warm-ups. Take a look at those tweets below:

This man is always reaching. What does me wearing my Hoodie on the bench have anything todo with reminding “white people” of #trayvon
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) October 28, 2017

One they shouldn’t forget about him! An 2 how does me out of all 450+ Nba players. Like seriously keep my name out ya mouth. @stephenasmith
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) October 28, 2017

You want to talk about me not playing that’s fine but don’t try an put me in something I have nothing todo with. An I’m not the only one!
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) October 28, 2017

Show been trash sine #skip left anyway
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) October 28, 2017

In case you didn't know...

Stephen A. Smith would discuss the Nike outfits after the season opener when Cleveland played the Boston Celtics on October 17th. Below are his comments (from ESPN.com):

“In Game 1, when they played against Boston, JR Smith was sitting on that bench with a hoodie on,” Stephen A. Smith said. “I don’t know why the hell Nike made these damn uniforms that had hoods attached to it, by the way. You got a lot of white folks in the audience that are gonna think this is Trayvon Martin being revisited, and I’m not joking about it. The bench is no place for someone to be wearing hoodies."

The heart of the matter...

Since then Stephen A. Smith would post a series of tweets responding back to JR Smith. Take a look at those tweets below:

Saw what ya said @TheRealJRSmith. Wasn’t talking about YOU went I went at the hoodie. Was talking of NIKE & how I don’t believe hoodies.....
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 28, 2017

Should be part of basketball uniforms, that’s all. I won’t respond to anything else @TheRealJRSmith b/c I get to see if you’ll BALL. That...
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 28, 2017

Is what matters. You ain’t playing in a garage by yourself. YOU could be the difference @TheRealJRSmith. We’ll see what you do. PERIOD!
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 28, 2017

And btw.....I shouldn’t even get on NIKE b/c A.) Don’t even know if they designed it and B.) the hoodie could look fly in other instances.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 28, 2017

JR Smith also stated that Stephen A. Smith expressed his concern with JR wearing the hoodie in person, but it was a different message than what Stephen A posted publicly. JR would explain below:

“It’s crazy because after our first game when we played Boston, I saw him in the tunnel and he said, ‘Be careful wearing your hoodie because people are going to mistake that for you not wanting to play because you’re not starting or you being frustrated,’”

What's next?

JR Smith and the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers (3-4) take the court next on Wednesday evening as they face the Indiana Pacers (3-3).

Author's take...

I think JR's right, Trayvon Martin should never be forgotten, but it made zero sense to compare the Nike warm-up design to the shooting that occurred in 2012. I thought the comment was pretty ridiculous and it was right of JR to defend himself.

I'm really not sure what Stephen A. Smith was trying to accomplish here and his response to JR Smith didn't really make sense either.