Nuggets’ J.R. Smith, Suns’ Jason Richardson Suspended By The NBA

The NBA imposed suspensions for the Denver Nuggets' J.R. Smith and the Phoenix Suns' Jason Richardson, after both were recently convicted of driving offenses.
Smith has been suspended without pay for seven games, after he pled guilty to reckless driving in a 2007 accident in New Jersey, resulting in the death of a passenger in Smith's car, Andre Bell.

He was also suspended for two games at the start of the 2007-08 season due to the crash.

"The commissioner's office has made it clear that it wants to set the highest standard of personal conduct for its athletes," Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien told the Miami Herald.

"We will support J.R. as he continues to deal with the tragic accident he was involved with two years ago and the consequences of his painful mistake. Being that this is strictly a league decision, we will have no further comment."

The suspension will commence with the first game of the 2009-10 NBA regular season.

The Suns' Jason Richardson will miss two games after he pleaded guilty to drunken driving in Arizona.