Former Knicks Player Hit Bouncer At UES Club, Report Says

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A former Knicks player who was once described at the worst athlete in the National Basketball Association is facing charges for assaulting a bouncer at an Upper East Side nightclub, according to reports.

Jamahl Smith, 31, was charged with misdemeanor assault, attempted assault and harassment for the Dec. 10 altercation at LAVO on East 58th Street and Madison Avenue, according to court records. Smith — who went by the name Chris Smith in the NBA — appeared in court Monday and his defense attorney insisted the attack wasn't criminal, according to the report.

"This was a misunderstanding at a nightclub. End of story," attorney Alex Spiro said, as reported by the Post.

Smith had previously told police "I didn’t like the way the bouncer approached me and stopped me," according to the report.

Knicks fans likely recognized Smith as the far-less-talented younger brother of former fan favorite J.R. Smith. Chris Smith's tenure in the NBA is made up of a two-game stint with the Knicks in the 2013-2014 season where he logged a total of one minute in playing time.

The minute was unproductive in terms of stats — zero points, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks — but was very lucrative for Smith. The Knicks paid Smith more than $2 million after giving him a roster spot on the NBA squad, Sports Illustrated reported in 2013. Sports Illustrated labeled Smith as "definitively the worst player in the league" and implied that his spot on the Knicks was solely a move to please brother J.R.

Smith's next court appearance is scheduled for March 21, according to court records. He is not being held in custody, but has been ordered to stay away from the bouncer he is accused of hitting.

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