JR Smith Wants To Start For New York Knicks After Serving Five-Game NBA Suspension

JR Smith had a lot of success coming off the bench last season, but if given the choice, the streak-shooting guard said that he wants to start for the New York Knicks in the 2013-14 NBA Season.

Smith, who is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, said in an interview with the New York Daily News that he prefers to start for the Knicks, but quickly added that he will accept whatever role coach Mike Woodson will give him.

"I've always wanted to start. Everybody knows that. Everybody knows how I feel about that. I won the Sixth Man last year, so I felt as though there's nothing left to prove at the sixth-man spot," said Smith. "But at the same time, if that's what my team needs me to do, that's what I'll do. If Coach Mike Woodson wants me to be a sixth man, I'll be a sixth man. If he wants me to start, I'll start. That's up to him."

Smith, who averaged a career-best 18.1 points in 80 games during the 2013-13 NBA regular season, is still recovering from patellar tendon surgery and athroscopy to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee.

The 28-year-old shooting guard went under fire as he announced the surgery five days after signing a contract extension with the Knicks. Reports suggested that Smith was about to sign a four-year extension, but the Knicks revised it to a three-year deal worth $18 million with a third year player option after learning about the surgery.

While he is still recovering from the surgeries he had, Smith, who will also serve a five-game suspension for violating the NBA's drug policy, knows that Iman Shumpert has the advantage in the competition for the starting guard spot.

"When Woodson decides to make the choice, we both have to live with it, between myself and Shump. It's a competition at this point, and he's winning. He's healthy, he's able to play. When I'm back ready, I'll be back ready," Smith said.

As for his return, Smith said that he is looking to play in the Knicks' final preseason game against the Charlotte Bobcats on Oct. 25th at Madison Square Garden in New York.