J.R. Smith and Jason Richardson Suspended Multiple NBA Games

J.R. Smith and Jason Richardson have been suspended for different amounts of game due to driving violations. Smith was suspended for the first seven games of the 2010 NBA season. This penalty comes after Smith pled guilty to reckless driving from a 2007 car accident. In the incident, Smith's friend whom was a passenger in the car Smith was driving was killed. Smith was already suspended two games in the 2007-08 season for this incident but this was before he went to trial. Smith will be eligible to return to the team on November 10 at Chicago.

This was Smith's second reckless driving offense which caused the suspension. The NBA stated that the punishment was a result of Smith's reckless driving history. This past summer, Smith was sentenced to thirty days in jail and was to perform 500 hours of community service. He was also fined. Smith will not be paid for the seven games that he will be missing. The Denver Nuggets released a statement agreeing with the commissioner, stating that they felt the players of the NBA should be held accountable. They understood that the commissioner wanted to set the highest standard for its players.

Jason Richardson has also been suspended a few games for driving related incidents. Richardson will have to sit out the first two games for the Phoenix Suns' season after he pled guilty to driving under the influence. Richardson will lose almost a quarter of a million dollars from his salary because he is missing two games.

Last season, Richardson was suspended one game without pay during the regular season by the Phoenix Suns after he pled guilty to two speeding charges and a count of endangerment after it was discovered that his son was in the car. The Suns have been in talks with the league to reducing the suspension to only one game this year because of the one game he missed last year.

Both suspensions should make their mark. However, Denver will surely feel the punishment more. Smith will likely take the starting position of Dahntay Jones who moved to the Indiana Pacers. Smith was the runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Denver will lose some edge to their rival Portland Trailblazers and Utah Jazz as these three teams compete for the division title. Richardson's suspension will not have as much as an impact as his is shorter and Phoenix can work around his short absence.

ESPN.com