Matt Barnes/Photo courtesy of Memphis Grizzlies

Former Clippers forward Matt Barnes – now of the Memphis Grizzlies – on Sunday was fined $35,000 by the NBA for his recent comments regarding New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher, with whom Barnes had a physical confrontation in October when Barnes found out his twin sons were unhappy that Fisher was visiting their mother – Barnes’ ex-wife Gloria Govan.

Barnes’ Grizzlies defeated the Knicks 103-95 on Saturday at Memphis. Although there was apparently no interaction between the two at the game, Barnes had plenty to say to reporters in the days leading to it.

“There’s support throughout the league, other leagues, GMs, owners, entertainers, actors, everybody,” Barnes said regarding the altercation with Fisher. “It’s been a great support. Every man who looks at the situation knows what’s right and wrong. Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is. And, unfortunately, it happened.”

On Sunday, the NBA said it fined Barnes “for inappropriate public comments that are detrimental to the best interests of the NBA.”

“Matt Barnes’ comments condoning violence do not reflect who we are as a league or the character of our players,” said Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA’s executive vice-president of basketball operations. “His words are unacceptable and entirely inconsistent with the core principles of this game and the NBA.”

Barnes had already been suspended two games for the incident itself.