Denver Nuggets swingman J.R. Smith has signed a $3 million contract with the Zhejiang Chouzhou Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association, NiuBBall is reporting. That deal makes Smith the highest-paid player in China's pro league.
As with Smith's Denver teammate Wilson Chandler, the deal does not include an opt-out to allow Smith to return to the United States when the lockout is settled. The Chinese league does not allow opt-out clauses in contracts. Smith is a free agent, and will be able to sign with any NBA team when (and if) he returns to the States.
He is the third current NBA player to sign a deal in China, joining Chandler and Earl Clark.
Smith is an... interesting choice for the Chinese league. At his best, he's an electric scorer and outstanding three-point shooter. But he's nearly as well-known for his long-running clash with Denver coach George Karl, and has spent the bulk of his NBA career in and out of Karl's dog house. Coaches in China have shown very little tolerance for that sort of thing in the past. Steve Francis' career in China lasted just 13 days and 14 minutes of playing time before the one-time NBA All-Star was waived.
Poor conditioning also played a major role in Francis quick exit.
Ex-NBA players Ricky Davis and Mike James had similarly brief cameos in the Chinese league. But Stephon Marbury - one of the NBA's most notorious knuckleheads during his tenure with the Knicks - is one of China's most popular players.
Some are predicting Smith will re-write the league's record book - and it wouldn't surprise me if that's the case. I'd be equally unsurprised if he returns home well before the CBA season is over.
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