{"id":3217,"date":"2016-12-31T12:10:54","date_gmt":"2016-12-31T17:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=3217"},"modified":"2016-12-31T12:10:54","modified_gmt":"2016-12-31T17:10:54","slug":"blake-griffin-suspended-assaulting-equipment-manager","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2016\/12\/31\/blake-griffin-suspended-assaulting-equipment-manager\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Most Captivating Storylines of 2016: Blake Griffin Suspended for Assaulting Equipment Manager"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the 2016 calendar year comes to an end, the LWOS MCXM series captures the 10\u00a0most captivating moments and storylines\u00a0from 2016 in each sport. For LWOPB, we take a look at the 10 events that\u00a0drew headlines this past year, bringing drama, excitement, or intrigue to the NBA.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

This article takes a look at the circumstances surrounding Blake Griffin\u2019s physical altercation with equipment manager Matias Testi, and the suspension that followed as a result.<\/p>\n

NBA Most Captivating Storylines of 2016: Blake Griffin Suspended for Assaulting Equipment Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On January 23, 2016, Los Angeles Clippers<\/strong> forward Blake Griffin<\/strong> <\/a>fractured his hand following an altercation with a member of the\u00a0Clippers’ equipment staff, Matias Testi<\/strong>. The Clippers were in Toronto<\/strong> to play the Raptors<\/strong> at the time. Griffin reportedly punched Testi multiple times in the face, both inside and outside the restaurant where the pair were dining with Clippers\u2019 center DeAndre Jordan<\/strong> <\/a>and assistant athletic trainer Joe Resendez<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What Prompted the Altercation?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although the cause of the altercation between Griffin and Testi has never been definitively confirmed, a number of sources reported that the pair had been arguing, and that Testi had been teasing Griffin that the Clippers were better off without him. Comments like that could have easily\u00a0gotten under Griffin\u2019s skin; the Clippers were 11-2 in his absence in the 4 weeks preceding the incident. Griffin had been out with a partially torn left quadricep muscle since the Clippers\u2019 Christmas Day match up with the Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n

Alcohol may have also been a factor; Griffin is believed to have been drinking at the time.<\/p>\n

Griffin\u2019s Injury<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As a result of the altercation, Griffin suffered a spiral fracture of the fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand. He underwent a relatively routine surgical procedure to repair the damage on January 26.<\/p>\n

Griffin\u2019s injury was a significant blow to the Clippers, who had been anticipating his return from his quadriceps tear\u00a0in the beginning of February. The fracture kept Griffin sidelined an additional two months. In total, he missed 45 games in a season where the big three of Griffin, Jordan and Chris Paul<\/strong> <\/a>were anticipated to take the Clippers well into the to the Western Conference Playoffs<\/strong>, if not beyond.<\/p>\n

Griffin\u2019s injury was also a significant blow to him personally. He had been averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game before the incident in Toronto, and was\u00a0poised to have the best season of his career. The altercation with Testi threw all of that away.\u00a0Griffin also missed being selected to the All-Star Game<\/strong> in Toronto for the first time in his six-year career because of his notable absence from the court.<\/p>\n

Griffin\u2019s Apology<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Within days of the incident, Griffin took to Twitter<\/strong> to apologize.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/blakegriffin32\/status\/692194242437988353<\/p>\n

Griffin\u00a0otherwise kept a very low profile in the months that followed, focusing on rehabilitation.<\/p>\n

The NBA\u2019s Response<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Within 3 days of the incident, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer<\/strong> and President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Doc Rivers<\/strong> <\/a>issued a joint statement <\/a>strongly condemning Griffin\u2019s behavior.\u00a0<\/em>It stated in part:<\/p>\n

\n

This conduct has no place in our organization and this incident does not represent who we are as a team. We are conducting a full investigation with assistance from the NBA. At the conclusion of the investigation, appropriate action will be taken. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Griffin\u2019s teammates, for the most part, kept mum about the situation. Some, however, were reported to have expressed frustration <\/a>with Griffin\u2019s poor judgment and timing, feeling that he had \u201clet the team down.\u201d<\/p>\n

By early February, the NBA and the Clippers had completed their investigation of the incident, and handed Griffin a four game suspension without pay. The Clippers docked the All-Star forward’s pay for an additional game because he broke his shooting hand.The suspension began once Griffin was cleared to play. In all, Griffin lost nearly $860,000 in salary.<\/p>\n

As for Testi, he is no longer with the Clippers’ Organization<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Clippers assistant equipment manager Matias Testi no longer works with the team, a source has confirmed to the OCR. @TMZ_Sports<\/a> was 1st.<\/p>\n

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) July 27, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n