NEW YORK – Pinagmulta ng NBA si Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes ng $35,000 dahil sa kanyang “inappropriate public comments” na tumatangkilik sa violence.
Inihayag ito ng NBA isang araw matapos talunin ng Grizzlies ang Knicks, 103-95, para sa unang laro ng dalawang koponan matapos masuspinde si Barnes dahil sa pakikipag-away kay New York coach Derek Fisher noong Oktubre.
“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,” sabi ni NBA vice president for basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe sa isang statement.
Ayon sa Commercial Appeal, sinabi ni Barnes sa pregame shootaround ng Grizzlies na: “Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is.”
Nag-iwasan naman sina Barnes at Fisher noong Sabado sa laro ng Memphis at New York.