JR Smith will cover up 'Supreme' calf tattoo to avoid fines
JR Smith isn't looking to fill the NBA's pockets with fines.
The Cleveland Cavaliers guard angrily took to Instagram when he was told that he would face penalties from the league if he exposed the "Supreme" logo tattoo on his calf during a game. Smith apparently reconsidered his position, realizing it's better to save his money.
"I'm not giving them money that could go to my kids,'' Smith said, according to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. "I was looking into (my rights), but the players' association just texted me, and you know what? I'm not going to put money in their pockets. Not a chance."
Smith claims there was no agreement with the brand and that he simply got the tattoo because he wanted to.
"It was just something that I wanted to do,'' Smith added. "There's a lot of other things going on in this world (the league) could be worried about besides a tattoo, but it's their league. They can do what they want."
The NBA's official stance doesn't allow any commercial, promotional, or charitable name, mark, logo, or other identification that's not on a player's uniform or sneakers to be shown during a game.
There is no debate that the NBA has the right to tell JR Smith he has to cover up the Supreme tattoo on his skin. Smith, by virtue of being an NBA player, agreed to those terms when the union signed the Collective Bargaining Agreement. pic.twitter.com/CmzWUkHDLa
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 1, 2018