Ex-Knicks Coach Woodson Had Physical Fights With This Player
Aug 5, 2025
During an interview with SNY, former Knicks head coach Mike Woodson revealed that he sometimes had physical fights with shooting guard J.R. Smith.
Woodson, who served as an assistant coach for the Knicks from 2011 to 2012 and again in 2020-2021 and as the head coach of the team from 2012 to 2014, is beloved in New York. He was known for his ability to connect with players, even those who came with rough reputations like Smith.
Smith, who had previously played for New Orleans and Denver, had both electrifying ability and a terrible reputation. With his talent too much to ignore, the Knicks signed him to a free agent deal in 2012.
Woodson told SNY what it was like coaching Smith in 2019:
"He fought me some nights. And it was a heavyweight blow. He'd throw a punch and I'd throw a punch back (laughs). And that's okay when you're coaching players. But at the end of the day, I was in J.R.'s corner, and he knew it, and he allowed me to coach. There were some nights when I looked at him and I was like, 'What are you doing?' But for the most part, I think J.R. became a better player, more of a complete player (in New York)."
While Smith and Woodson may have had their arguments, they also seem to have gotten the best out of eachother. Smith was named the 2013 Sixth Man of the Year after a season that saw him set career highs in points with 18.1 and rebounds with 5.3.
