J.R. Smith not happy with Phil Jackson divulging private conversations

J.R. Smith called it "crazy" that Phil Jackson aired the former Knick's private issues in an interview with ESPN.com.

Jackson told the website that Smith "was coming late to team meetings or missing them altogether" and "was going through some issues with his gal" before the Knicks traded him to Cleveland last January. Smith was surprised and didn't appreciate Jackson doing that.

"It was crazy to me," Smith told ESPN.com on Friday. "I try to leave my personal life on the side, and when somebody sits there, sits behind a desk and tells you to open up on what's going on with you, you're thinking that's going to be between the two of y'all.

"To come from someone like Phil, it's just, it's crazy. It makes you not want to tell anybody anything to do with your business. It was tough, but that's how he handles stuff, that's how he does it."

King on 'Zing: Good pick

LeBron James told Cleveland reporters Thursday that the Knicks made "a good decision" drafting Kristaps Porzingis. He spoke highly of him again at Friday's morning shootaround.

"He's going to be a very good player," James said before backtracking a bit. "Only time will tell, though . . . What he's shown has been some good ball, and we'll see what happens."

Knick-knacks

Lou Amundson has jumped over Kevin Seraphin as the third big man in the rotation. Derek Fisher said Seraphin's role was impacted by a knee injury that limited him in the preseason and that Amundson's "grit" and "figuring out a way to help the team" are factors . . . The Knicks held a moment of silence for former GM Scotty Stirling, 2001 second-round pick Michael Wright and the victims of the Paris attacks.

With Brian Heyman

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.