Matt Barnes’ big mouth got him in trouble with the NBA again—the League fined the Grizzlies forward $35,000 for making pro-violence comments this past weekend prior to facing his latest nemesis, New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher.
Here’s a snippet of the press release, via the AP:
The NBA has fined Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes $35,000 for making “inappropriate public comments” condoning violence. […] NBA vice president for basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe says in a statement: “Matt Barnes’ comments condoning violence do not reflect who we are as a league or the character of our players. His words are unacceptable and entirely inconsistent with the core principles of this game and the NBA.”
Memphis took care of the visiting Knicks 103-95, and both guys say their highly-publicized tussle is now behind them.
Per the Commercial Appeal and NY Post:
“Every man who looks at the situation knows what’s right and wrong,” Barnes said at the Grizzlies’ shootaround. “Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is. … I just don’t like him, plain and simple. He knows I don’t like him.”
Three uniformed Memphis policeman stood watch outside the Knicks locker room 45 minutes before tip-off Saturday night at the FedEx Forum. During pregame warmups, two policemen stood on the corner of the court by the Knicks basket.
Though Barnes and Fisher never got to tango, Barnes had the last laugh, literally. […] Barnes scored his first points with 25.4 seconds left to put the game out of reach Grizzlies, giving them an insurmountable seven-point lead. Poetically, Barnes dribbled out the clock on a 103-95 victory over the Knicks, laughing as he bounced the ball to the buzzer.
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