Update: The NBA officially suspended Matt Barnes two games for “engaging in a physical altercation with and threatening New York Knicks’ Head Coach Derek Fisher.”
Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes reportedly drove to the home of his estranged wife, Gloria Govan, and attacked Knicks coach Derek Fisher, who’s dating her. Then, Barnes reportedly texted friends he beat up Fisher and spit in Govan’s face.
The NBA investigated, and the results are in.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
The NBA is suspending Memphis' Matt Barnes for off-court incident with Knicks coach Derek Fisher, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 28, 2015
Matt Barnes will serve a two-game suspension, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 28, 2015
If the reports are true, Barnes committed domestic violence. He allegedly used physical force to assert his dominance over his estranged wife.
Then, Barnes blamed Fisher for telling.
Barnes ought to feel fortunate he got just two games. That’s the result of this story being spun as a childish dust-up between Barnes and Fisher – not domestic violence.
Most unrepentant domestic abusers in professional sports get harsher penalties in this post-Ray Rice world.