Maybe the Knicks should just stay out of South Florida.
After suffering a humiliating first-round playoff elimination to the Heat earlier this month, Knicks guard J.R. Smith returned to Miami — and was busted Thursday by cops on a year-old outstanding bench warrant for not having a valid driver’s license.
Smith was recognized by cops in South Beach at about 8:30 p.m., Miami police spokesman Sgt. Bobby Hernandez told The Post.
The outstanding warrant stemmed from a May 2011 incident in which Smith, 26, was cited for driving a scooter without a valid driver’s license.
When the NBA star never showed up for his court appearance last July, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
Thursday, Smith was hauled off to the Miami-Dade County jail and booked under his legal name of Earl Joseph Smith. He was later released on bond.