JR Smith has said that he "just wanted to be aggressive" upon his return for the New York Knicks.
The shooting guard was benched after being handed a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct, but returned to score 11 points in the 102-92 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 28-year-old told reporters: "I just wanted to be aggressive, attack, get back to my old self, play with a chip on my shoulder and it worked. It was very important for me as well as the team to get out there and be successful with scoring the ball and getting my teammates open shots.
"That's the worst feeling in the world, someone takes the game away from you, especially something you love. It's all you know, you've been doing it your whole life.
"Be serious, be a professional and don't take this opportunity for granted. There's a lot of people in the world who want our jobs and we can't take it for granted. It can be taken away just that fast."
The Knicks have won their last four games.
Sian Cowper
