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Barnes fined by NBA for condoning violence

Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes has been fined by the NBA for comments justifying his fight with New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes has been fined $US35,000 ($A50,000) by the National Basketball Association for inappropriate public comments directed at New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher.

Barnes and Fisher had a physical altercation in October which was centered around Barnes' estranged wife.

The NBA investigated the incident and suspended Barnes for two games for fighting.

On Saturday, the two former teammates crossed paths for the first time since the dustup when the Grizzlies beat the Knicks 103-95 in New York.

The game was played without incident, but Barnes made several comments in advance of the game justifying his fight with Fisher and criticizing the coach for the way he handled it.

As a result, Barnes was penalized yet again by the league.

"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 in a statement.

"His words are unacceptable and entirely inconsistent with the core principles of this game and the NBA."


1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



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