Back in January, the Los Angeles Clippers found themselves in a bizarre controversy from an off-the-court issue. In the fish bowl that is Los Angeles professional basketball, everything is closely examined and the bizarre brawl between Blake Griffin and the Clippers’ equipment manager got the city’s full attention.
Griffin punched his friend, Matias Testi, after some ribbing went a little too far. The altercation resulted in Griffin fracturing his hand, missing several weeks of action, as well as getting docked five games’ worth of pay from the ensuing suspension for the fisticuffs. Testi himself suffered numerous facial injuries. Plus, Griffin earned some ribbing himself from the Twitterverse who had a field day after the situation was brought to light. It was an unusual ordeal, and Griffin told reporters in February he had made amends with Testi and was embarrassed by the situation:
“It’s something I think about every day and wish I could take it back, and I’ve told Matias that. I have talked to Matias tons of times since the incident. He actually said it best: ‘This stuff happens and we’re like brothers and we just have to move on.’”
Well, they’re brothers no longer as TMZ Sports first reported Testi will not be returning to the team for the 2016-17 season. It’s another interesting chapter to the Clippers’ already fascinating offseason, where they are looking to break free of the Lakers’ shadow, and teams are looking to deal for Griffin. One wonders if the team will continue in its role a tier below title contention in the West.
(Via TMZ Sports)