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Knicks' Smith aims to 'be a leader' this season

Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports

J.R. Smith hopes to turn over a new leaf this season. 

The enigmatic New York Knicks guard-forward has been labeled many things throughout his 10-year career, but a leader is not one of them. However, when setting his personal goals for the upcoming season, he hopes to change that. 

"Be a leader," Smith told Ian Begley of ESPN. "We've got so many younger guys around. A lot of the older guys left within the last two years. So be more of a leader and help out." 

Smith demonstrated numerous reasons last season why his leadership should be taken with a grain of salt. In January, he was fined $50,000 for untying Greg Monroe's shoelace while at the free-throw line, the second time he attempted the stunt in the span of a week. 

The 28-year-old also hung former head coach Mike Woodson out to dry in February when he was asked by reporters if the team still supported Woodson, to which he replied, "yeah, I believe so. It's kind of hard to tell."

Despite a checkered past, Smith is hoping to carry himself as those before him, setting an example for younger players on the roster such as Quincy Acy, Cleanthony Early and Tim Hardaway Jr. 

"Just 'show instead of say' and stuff like that," Smith said. "'Sheed [Rasheed Wallace], J Kidd [Jason Kidd] -- those guys led by example and that's what I'm going to try to do." 

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