J.R. Smith Suspended Five Games by the NBA for Violating the League's Drug Policy

He'll miss the start of the season.

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J.R. Smith is going to miss even more time than Knicks fans were expecting him to next season. Smith—who had offseason surgery on his knee and might not be ready to play by the start of the 2013-14 NBA season—was just suspended for five games by the NBA for violating the league's drug policy. There's been no word yet from the NBA on exactly what Smith did to violate the policy (Yahoo! Sports is reporting that he tested positive for marijuana recently). But he will be required to sit out five games at the start of the season, beginning with the first game that he's physically able to play after he's finished rehabbing his knee.

Not a good start to the season for Smith, who signed a three-year, $18 million deal with the Knicks back in July. Not good at all.

RELATED: J.R. Smith's Craziest Twitter Moments

[via ESPN New York]

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