When Matt Barnes’ son told him that New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher was at the house mingling with Barnes’ soon-to-be ex-wife, Gloria Govan, Barnes reportedly jumped into his car Saturday, driving 95 miles to shut it down, the New York Post reports.
It was a house that Barnes and Govan once both lived in. Barnes moved out after he and Govan split.
Once there, Barnes allegedly attacked Fisher and spit at Govan. Barnes later texted a friend about the incident, saying, “I kicked his ass from the backyard to the front room and spit in her face,” a source told the Post.
Sources told the Post that the police were called after the incident but that Fisher left the scene and would not press charges. The NBA is reportedly investigating the incident. Barnes is a small forward for the Memphis Grizzlies.
A source affiliated with Fisher suggested that the Knicks coach didn’t get beat up.
“Matt came after Derek, but he only had a few scratches,” the source told the Post.
Fisher missed practice Monday. The Knicks said his absence was due to “personal issues.”
When asked about the ordeal, Fisher said, “My state of mind—like I talked to the guys a few minutes ago—is personal, and private matters are personal and private.”
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Diana Ozemebhoya Eromosele is a staff writer at The Root and the founder and executive producer of Lectures to Beats, a Web series that features video interviews with scarily insightful people. Follow Lectures to Beats on Facebook and Twitter.
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