After a "physical altercation" last October with New York Knicks coach, the NBA ordered a suspension for Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes two games without pay Monday.
The suspension of Barnes will begin Tuesday night, where the Grizzlies face the Miami Heat and as well as the team's Saturday night game at the Utah Jazz. The Grizzlies doesn't have a scheduled game for Monday after their back-to-back games over the weekend.
The league investigated the incident which happened Oct. 3 incident in Redondo Beach, California, involving Barnes and Derek Fisher. The two were Los Angeles Lakers team mates from 2010-2012.
After the Grizzlies had just finished their week of training, a source told The Associated Press that the incident happened while Fisher attended a gathering at the home of Barnes' estranged wife, Gloria Govan. The source's identity was withheld and no further details were publicly released. On that night, Barnes told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne that he went to his former wife's home to check on his 6-year-old twin sons. He said he has been receiving text messages and FaceTime calls from them, sensing that something is up that makes them uncomfortable. Barnes said one of the twins told him that "Mommy's friend Derek is here."
Barnes lives a 15-minute drive away from his twin's home so he drove and found Fisher was there. The situation between Barnes, Fisher and Govan apparently escalated and a physical altercation reportedly took place. The Redondo Beach Police, on the other hand found and declared that there are no basis for criminal charges.
The Grizzlies traded for Barnes on draft day in June. Barnes has played 33 games with the Grizzlies (17-16) and is averaging 8.6 points and five rebounds per game.
Fisher is in his second season with the Knicks after spending most of his playing career in Los Angeles.
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
