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          New York Knicks

          J.R.: This camp is 'definitely a clean slate'

          • Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN Staff WriterSep 29, 2014, 03:43 PM ET
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              Ohm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.
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          GREENBURGH, N.Y. –- J.R. Smith is looking forward to starting training camp without having to worry about his health or an impending suspension.

          “I think it’s definitely a clean slate,” Smith said at Knicks media day on Monday about going into camp this year. “I think it will be a more productive start of the year for me. There’s nothing hanging over my head whether it’s injuries, suspensions stuff like that. So I’m starting out from Day One with my team and it’s a great feeling.”

          J.R. Smith

          J.R. Smith

          #8 SG
          New York Knicks

          2014 STATS

          • GM74

          • PPG14.5

          • RPG4.0

          • APG3.0

          • FG%.415

          • FT%.652

          Last season, Smith came into camp recovering from offseason knee surgery. He also had to serve a five-game suspension to start the season for violating the terms of the NBA's anti-drug program.

          Smith got off to a slow start last season, averaging just 11.7 points and 32.8% shooting and 28.6% three-point shooting in the month of November. He averaged 12 points in the months of December and January but slowly started to play better.

          “I didn’t feel like I did two years ago until the last 30 games of the year,” said Smith, who really got hot at the end averaging 23.4 points and 46.3% three-point shooting in his last seven games in April.

          Head coach Derek Fisher has not committed to a starting five yet. Smith and Iman Shumpert should have a healthy competition in training camp if Fisher opts to start just one of them. Tim Hardaway Jr. also will push for minutes after an impressive rookie season.

          Smith, the Sixth Man of the Year in 2012-13, believes he and Shumpert will elevate their games.

          “I don’t look at it as a rivalry,” Smith said of the competition with Shumpert. “I think it’s great for the game of basketball. If I don’t push him and he doesn’t push me then we’re both wasting each other’s time. And I don’t think we want to do that.”

          “I think we can hit people from three totally different angles,” Smith added of himself, Shumpert and Hardaway Jr. “I think there’s not a team in this league that has what we have at the shooting guard spot and I think that’s very unique ... you should look at it as a dynamic trio like people do with running backs in football.”

          Smith, 29, plans to bring a more mature approach after admitting that he made things difficult for himself at times last season. His shoelace antics led to $50,000 in fines.

          Having played 10 seasons in the league, Smith doesn’t want to waste the time he has left in his career.

          “Just trying to get closer to my goal which is winning an NBA championship, just doing whatever it takes,” Smith said. “Spend meaningful time on the court and not just waste time. Do whatever it takes whether it’s working harder or staying later, preparing, doing whatever it takes to win.”

          “In my eyes, it’s a failure if I spend this much time in the league and not win,” he added. “I’ve got some time to make up.”