Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith voiced support for Cleanthony Early. Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

Players, coach react to Cleanthony Early shooting

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 12/30/15

NBA players are speaking out following the shooting robbery of New York Knicks forward Cleanthony Early.

Teammate Carmelo Anthony, one of the league's biggest advocates for gun control, called for action to keep players safe when he addressed the media on Wednesday:

.@carmeloanthony -"we need to do a better job of putting ourselves in a safer environment!" @nyknicks pic.twitter.com/0d2TKrma5d
— Bruce Beck (@BruceBeck4NY) December 30, 2015

This isn't the first time in recent history that an athlete has been robbed and/or assaulted in New York. Derrick Williams was robbed just a couple weeks ago. Coach Derek Fisher addressed the two incidents, saying, "It's clear that they are victims. They didn't break any laws."

Wednesday's incident, in which Early was robbed and shot in the knee outside of a strip club in Queens early Wednesday morning, has drawn ire from NBA fans and Twitter trolls who criticize players for going out. To that point, former-Knick J.R. Smith took to social media to defend the players' rights and to show support for Early:

"So because I play basketball means I can't go outside? That's what y'all telling me? Lol people just want to hear themselves talk! It's funny how no one says 'damn that's messed up! His career could be over' they just say 'he shouldn't have been out so late' #Really!!"

It was last reported that Early was released from Elmhurst Hospital on Wednesday afternoon. It has not yet been reported how long of a recovery time he will need.

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