J.R. Smith out 3-4 months after knee surgery, Knicks announce

The Knicks announced that J.R. Smith had knee surgery and will miss three to four months. (Ron Hoskins/Getty Images)

New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith will need 12-16 weeks of recovery time after undergoing surgery on his left knee, the team announced Monday evening.

The Knicks said that Smith had patella tendon surgery and arthroscopy for a tear in the lateral meniscus of his left knee. His scheduled recovery time means that he could return during training camp or he could potentially miss the start of the season.

The team said that Smith's injuries were chronic and "gradually worsened," ultimately requiring surgery.

Just last week, the Knicks and Smith agreed on a four-year, $24.7 million contract. Smith, 27, averaged 18.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per game last season, all career highs. He was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year.

He struggled, however, during the postseason, and it's possible that his injuries played a role. He averaged 14.3 points per game on just 33.1 percent shooting from the field, which was down from 42.2 percent during the regular season.