Cleveland – Like the Nuggets, the National Basketball Players Association has tried to be supportive for Nuggets guard J.R. Smith, whose car accident Saturday led to the death of his friend Andre Bell. Smith escaped with minor injuries.
NBPA executive director Billy Hunter said Wednesday he spoke to Smith’s father, Earl, via telephone to extend the organization’s support. Hunter didn’t seem concerned that J.R. Smith’s contract, which pays $2.1 million in the final year next season with Denver, was in jeopardy.
“(Earl) said that J.R. was in reasonably good shape and he would hopefully fully recover from the accident,” Hunter said. “I’ve reached out to his dad to let him know I was available, the union’s available. Any way we can help him, we’d gladly do it.
“He’s obviously covered by insurance. He has his contract. I can’t think of any other ancillary issues that have arisen at this moment.”
Smith could not be reached for comment.
NBPA president and Utah Jazz guard Derek Fisher said he planned to reach out to J.R. Smith in the near future to also offer support via e-mail, letter or a phone call. Fisher also expressed support for the Bell family.
“It’s just sad, because guys in the league are like brothers even though we don’t play on the same team,” Fisher said. “With the loss of his friend, to his family you send condolences first. And from there, I’m sure for J.R., it’s just traumatic, wishing he could have that five or 10 seconds back to maybe just stop or do something different. He’ll probably live with that the rest of his life.”
Smith was issued two summonses, one for failure to stop at a stop sign and another for improper passing. Smith and Bell were thrown from a sport utility vehicle that was hit by another car when Smith drove around a vehicle in front of him at a stop sign in Millstone Township, N.J.
Feed the Children
Hunter, Fisher, Feed the Children president Larry Jones and Mike Espy, former secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, held a news conference here Wednesday to announce the “Feeding One Million” project.
The NBPA and Feed the Children organization plan to feed 1 million people in Kenya. The NBPA intends to send 10 players to Kenya to distribute food. The union will also help pay to transport 500 tons of donated rice from Taiwan to Kenya.
“You hear many times, allegedly an NBA star did this,” Jones said. “Well, I want to tell you today, this is not allegedly. The NBA players association is guilty of having compassion. And this is going to be a tremendous thing because when we go, and they’re actually handing out food, the awareness level is going to go through the roof.”
TV ratings in free-fall
The NBA Finals continue to draw far fewer viewers than watched last year.
The San Antonio Spurs’ 75-72 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night received a 6.4 national rating and an 11 share on ABC, down 20 percent from the 8.0/14 for last year’s Game 3 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat.
The Game 3 drop follows a 30 percent plunge for Game 2 and a 19 percent decline for Game 1.
A ratings point represents 1,114,000 households.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
