The Chinese take their professional basketball just as seriously as we do on the other side of the Pacific. So when former Denver Nuggets J.R. Smith was fouled in the paint, his sister took matters into her own hands — literally.
Smith, who jumped ship for China during the NBA lockout is stuck in Beijing until the Chinese basketball season is over in March. That’s when he can be reactivated in a NBA uniform, according to the Chinese rules that he agreed to when he signed that fat $3 million contract.
Smith’s current team, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, faced the Bayi Rockets, who aren’t strangers to playing dirty (this is the Chinese military team who famously brawled with Georgetown on the court).
According to Deadspin.com, after Smith drew contact without a foul call, his sister allegedly threw a bottle on the court, then went on a rampage—choking out a woman and shoving an 80-year-old man out of her way.
Smith’s girlfriend (above center) tried in vain to stop the rampage, but finally Smith himself ran up into the stands to calm his sister down. Smith ended the game with 34 points, 8 assists and 8 rebounds. We still don’t know who won the game.
After the game, angry Bayi fans surrounded the team bus demanding an apology and delaying the bus’ departure for 45 minutes. It’s a good thing they have strict gun control laws in China or Smith’s sister might have shot somebody.
Images source: Deadspin.com
