J.R. Smith Has Been Playing Through Back Problems

By Anthony Parisi | Oct 14, 2014

Apr 2, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith (8) looks on against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The New York Knicks won 110-81. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

J.R. Smith has been bothered by back pain for the last few days, but unless advised by a doctor he expects to play through the pain.

J.R. Smith is a huge part of the New York Knicks roster and he will need to step up and produce positive statistics if the Knicks aspirations of making it back to the NBA playoffs will come true. Smith already being injured is not a good sign at all and Smith announced to the media that his back has been bothering him and he won’t sit, unless advised by a doctor.

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It’s only the preseason, so Knicks coach Derek Fisher may opt to rest Smith until the regular season, but the veteran Smith wants to be on the court. The Knicks are calling Smith’s injury lower back spasms and Fisher hasn’t addressed whether or not Smith will play throughout the entirety of the preseason yet. Back spasms are a nuisance to deal with, but they are usually an injury that players play through.

The only question that Smith needs to address is if he wants to heal his back and be ready to go for the regular season, or play through the spasms and risk suffering the same injury during the season. Smith is making the injury sound like it’s no big deal, so I won’t be surprised if he does play through the spasms.

The Knicks need Smith to be at his best this season and they can’t be without him due to the injury bug. Back spasms are no big deal, but often times if not treated properly, it can escalate into something worse. The Knicks would rather be safe than sorry.

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