Matt Barnes/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, NBA.com
According to ESPN.com, which cited an “NBA spokesman,” the $25,000 fine Matt Barnes received Tuesday for an incident that took place Sunday at Phoenix was not because he exchanged inappropriate language with Suns owner Robert Sarver.
When the NBA released its statement about the situation, it said Barnes was fined for directing inappropriate language toward a fan during the Clippers’ 120-100 victory. Barnes took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon and said that was not true, that it was directed at Sarver after Sarver started it.
“As players, we’re obviously held to a higher standard; I’ve had to watch myself on that. But I think if we’re held to high standards, owners should be held to even higher standards,” Barnes told ESPN.com at Thursday’s shootaround ahead of Thursday night’s game at Utah.. “When an elder says something derogatory toward me and I respond, I thought it would stay there. It’s one grown man saying something to another grown man. I’m not going to run and tell, but the fact that he or someone around him told (the league), it’s crazy.”
Barnes did admit he was having words with some fans as well, but still believes his fine was because of his back-and-forth with Sarver.
