Fansided

NBA suspending Matt Barnes for taking it to Derek Fisher

By Kyle Franzoni

Dec 27, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes (22) grabs a loose ball in front of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Los Angeles 112-96. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes (22) grabs a loose ball in front of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Los Angeles 112-96. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NBA finally got around to suspending Memphis Grizzlies guard Matt Barnes for his offseason altercation with New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher.

Matt Barnes didn’t take too kindly to Derek Fisher being with the former’s estranged wife this offseason. Now, the NBA is informing the Memphis Grizzlies guard that they didn’t appreciate the way he handled the matter.

According to Adrian Wojnarowksi of Yahoo Sports, the NBA has suspended Barnes for two games stemming from an October altercation involving Fisher. The suspension will be administered during Tuesday’s game against the Miami Heat and Saturday’s contest against the Jazz in Utah.

Barnes separated from wife Gloria Govan in 2014, amid reports of domestic violence against the former Basketball Wives star. While the two are not formally divorced, they are living apart, which prompted the incident with Fisher, a former teammate of Barnes while with the Lakers.

According to the report, Fisher flew from New York to Los Angeles to visit Govan, which didn’t sit well with Barnes. Barnes then drove to the Govan’s home and confronted Fisher about his intentions and the two got physical as a result.

Barnes was traded twice this winter, first going from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Charlotte Hornets for Lance Stephenson. He was then flipped ten days later to the Memphis Grizzlies in a deal that brought Luke Ridnour to Charlotte.

Despite enduring a drop in minutes in 2015, Barnes has been productive for the Grizzlies, averaging 8.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 25.6 minutes of action each night. That’s put him slightly over replacement level, with a VORP of 0.7 on the season.

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