DeAndre Jordan interviewed by NBA about Blake Griffin incident
DeAndre Jordan was interviewed by the NBA about Blake Griffin punching a Clippers' equipment manager.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing surgery on his broken right hand, and injury he sustained after punching Clippers equipment manager Matias Testi outside of a Toronto restaurant on Jan. 23.
Griffin, who is actually good friends with Testi and has since apologized for the incident, has not yet been suspended for his actions but the NBA has begun an investigation regarding the altercation. According to Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times, the NBA started its investigation by interviewing DeAndre Jordan and Clippers assistant athletic trainer Joe Resendez, both of whom were at the restaurant when the incident occurred.
From Bolch:
“Those guys are really close friends of mine, like brothers to me,” Jordan said of Griffin and Testi.
What was supposed to be a dinner among friends in Toronto's entertainment district on Saturday took a horrific turn when Griffin repeatedly punched Testi, leaving his longtime buddy with a severely swollen face and Griffin with a broken right hand.
Griffin and Testi had engaged in some of their routine back-and-forth teasing when things became heated, with the confrontation starting inside the restaurant and continuing outside and involving multiple blows from Griffin, said a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to discuss it publicly.
“It's a tough situation,” Jordan said. “Two guys that I'm super close with and it's sticky, man. It's tough.”
Jordan and Resendez were interviewed Wednesday in Atlanta by NBA security investigating the altercation, according to league officials who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. NBA officials are expected to soon interview Griffin and Testi while determining whether there is video of the incident from the restaurant.
This is all due diligence by the NBA as it tried to determine the extent of Griffin's punishment. Indeed, while Griffin may be injured for four to six weeks, he could be out for an even longer stretch if the NBA or the Clippers choose to suspend him for actions.
