Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes has been fined $35,000 for inappropriate public comments that are detrimental to the best interests of the NBA, the league announced Sunday.
On Saturday, Barnes made his comments when asked about his conflict with New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher.
“Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is,” Barnes said. “And unfortunately, it happened. I don’t regret it.”
The Grizzlies’ 103-95 victory over the Knicks on Saturday night at FedExForum was the first time Barnes and Fisher had met since an altercation at the California home of Barnes’ ex-wife, Gloria Govan, in October. Barnes was reprimanded on Dec. 28 by the NBA, which imposed a two-game suspension on Barnes for attacking and threatening Fisher.
“Matt Barnes’ comments condoning violence do not reflect who we are as a league or the character of our players,” Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations said Sunday in a statement. “His words are unacceptable and entirely inconsistent with the core principles of this game and the NBA.”