J.R. Smith Elaborated On His Problems With Stephen A. Smith’s Hoodie Criticism

Nike has some new options for players to wear pregame have as part of their new apparel deal with the NBA, most notably (and popularly) a hoodie that has become a staple on the court in warmups and on the benches during games.

This was, purposefully or not, an addition made after the summer of Hoodie Melo and the vast majority of players can be seen in them, often hood up, going through warmups and when not in the game. It’s a complete non-issue that became an issue by way of an unsurprising source, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.

Smith said he thinks people will construe it as players making a statement about Trayvon Martin and then called out J.R. Smith in particular for wearing it on the bench. His issue with J.R. Smith wearing it was in relation to Smith looking discontented with being benched early in the season for Dwyane Wade, who has since moved back to the bench.

On Saturday, the Cavs’ shooting guard fired back at Stephen. A. on Twitter for his comments and asked why he was getting singled out when almost everyone in the league wears them.

After the Cavs’ loss on Saturday night to the Pelicans, Smith elaborated on his frustrations with Stephen A. in a conversation with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, noting that he’s long worn a hoodie, even while he was in New York.

“I mean, that’s ridiculous,” JR Smith said. “Stephen A. said that me wearing my hoodie on the bench makes white people remember Trayvon Martin. For one, they should remember him. Everybody should remember him. But for two, I’ve always worn a hoodie. I used to wear my hoodie in New York.”

He also pointed out that nearly all 450 players in the league were wearing the hoodies and that Smith spoke to him about wearing the hoodie in the opener and voiced his concerns that people will see it as him being upset about being on the bench.

“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,’” JR Smith said.

“I said, ‘OK, I can see that.’ But then you’re switching it up to say what you said [about Martin], it’s like, what are you talking about? It’s cool. I mean, I expect it. I should expect that at this point.”

Stephen A. took to Twitter to clarify his point after J.R.’s initial tweets at him, but it doesn’t seem like he fully understands why J.R. was upset.