Carmelo Anthony Suspended One Game for Post Game Confrontation with Garnett
By Josh Hill
The NBA has suspended New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony one game for hunting Kevin Garnett after the Knicks loss to the Celtics on Monday night. During the game, Garnett appeared to have gotten under Melo’s skin and while both men were handed double technicals for their altercation, Melo wasn’t done with the fight.
So, as you naturally do I suppose, Melo went hunting for Garnett after the final horn blew, first standing outside the Celtics locker room reportedly shouting for Garnett before waiting for him outside the Celtics team bus.
The NYPD had to be called in to defuse the situation.
“There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable for a player to confront an opponent after a game,” the NBA’s Executive Vice President Basketball Operations Stu Jackson said in a statement. “Carmelo Anthony attempted to engage with Kevin Garnett multiple times after Monday’s game and therefore a suspension was warranted.”
[RELATED: NYPD had to keep ‘Melo, KG Apart After Knicks-Celtics Game]
Naturally, Melo took issue with the suspension, saying he didn’t actually fight Garnett and had no intention of doing so. Rather, he just wanted to have a lively chat with him and finish the conversation they were having on the court.
“Nothing happened for me to be suspended,” he said. “I wanted to talk to KG. I think it was something we both needed to get off our chest and see what really the problem was. No altercations, it was just some words and a conversation that we needed to have.”
Melo will miss this Thursday game for the Knicks, but will have plenty of time to finish his conversation with Garnett when they meet again on January 24th in Boston.