Knicks` Smith fined for untying rivals` shoes

New York: Repeatedly trying to unknot the shoelaces of rival players during NBA games has cost New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith $50,000 (36,850 euros).

The league imposed the punishment upon the 28-year-old American on Wednesday after he attempted to untie an opposing player`s shoes Tuesday during New York`s 89-85 home victory over Detroit. The NBA had already issued Smith a warning about such moves after he untied the left shoelace of Dallas forward Shawn Marion during a second quarter free throw attempt last Sunday when the Knicks beat the visiting Mavericks 92-80. Smith was standing next to Marion awaiting a potential rebound when he reached down to make his move. "I`ve never seen it done in an NBA game," Knicks coach Mike Woodson told a leading channel. "You think you have seen it all and something creeps in. "He shouldn`t be doing stuff like that." Marion laughed off the move, but he was trying to relace his shoe at the other end of the court after Smith`s trick and only was able to reknot the shoelace after a foul stopped play once more.