New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith has been fined for posting an inappropriate picture of a woman on his Twitter account.
The NBA may have taken a play from one of the Knicks stars, Jeremy Lin, by suggesting a moral code for team players. Losing games isn't the only thing that has been concerning the Knicks. On Friday, Smith posted a photo of Tahiry Jose, revealing her bottom on his Twitter account.
Although he later removed the photo, it had already been passed across the Internet.
Smith posted the photo after spending Thursday night with the model. He also made comment that Jose's bottom was in the way of his view of the television.
"I didn't know it was going to be as big deal as it is now," Smith said in a statement after his team's loss to the Bucks Friday. "I definitely regret it. It takes away from our team. Anytime I do anything that takes away from our team, I'm definitely going to regret it."
When interviewed before the game however, Smith was hardly fazed by his actions. "I get a lot of criticism for everything, so I'm not really worried about it. I'm just focused on the game," Smith told the Associated Press.
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Many were offended by Smith's actions.
"I wish African American men would try- JUST TRY- to respect women sometimes," Joan Nyokabi wrote on the Larry Brown's sports blog. "It would be such a welcome change from their misogynistic tendencies. Even if she had posted naked pictures of herself before on the net, HIM DOING IT TO HER just makes it look like he compares her to meat on sale ... it is incredibly disrespectful."
Throughout his public statements, Smith continuously failed to apologize for his actions being disrespectful although he did give an apology to Jose for the media coverage.
"Things are being taken (too) far sorry," Smith wrote to Jose after he had posted the photo.
Despite Smith's lack of concern, the NBA decided to fine the player $25,000. Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, announced the punishment on Saturday.
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