Blake Griffin will be suspended four games by the Clippers for his involvement in an altercation with Los Angeles assistant equipment manager Matias Testi in Toronto last week, per the team's official release. Griffin will also be fined another game's pay.
Blake Griffin suspended 4 games for punching Clippers’ equipment staffer
Griffin’s altercation with a friend in Toronto will cost him more time after he fully recovers from the broken hand he suffered.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The suspension will likely begin once Griffin is healthy enough to play. He will donate the money from his suspension to charity, the Clippers announced.
In the incident, Griffin followed Testi outside the restaurant where they were eating and hit him, breaking his hand in the process. Griffin, who was already rehabbing from a partially torn quad and was expected to return shortly, is missing another four to six weeks with the hand injury.
The official release from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and head coach Doc Rivers can be seen here.
The L.A. Clippers announced today that forward Blake Griffin has been suspended without pay for four games for striking a team employee on Jan. 23 and his wages will be withheld for one additional game for injuries he sustained. The NBA has assisted us in this process.
The Clippers will donate the salary from the five games to charities focused on disadvantaged youth in Los Angeles. At his request, Blake will support this activity with his time.
We have made it clear that this conduct has no place in the Clippers organization. Blake is remorseful and has apologized for his actions. He is a valued member of our Clippers family and we support him as he rejoins the team. He understands his actions have consequences, and is eager to get back to work with his teammates, the organization and Clipper Nation which starts immediately with rehab, appearances and attendance at games.
For our team and organization, it is time to move forward which begins today and ultimately concludes when we have Blake back on the court.
Griffin cannot serve the suspension until he is medically cleared. In the meantime, the Los Angeles Clippers are 17-4 without Griffin and have taken a strong five-game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Though unlikely, the situation has even made us explore potential trade possibilities if Los Angeles ever decides to move Griffin.
Griffin issued this apology on Twitter for his actions last week, calling Testi a close friend and saying the situation got out of hand.
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin32) January 27, 2016
The first photos of Griffin’s extremely swollen hand came out on Thursday.
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