Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – The video made its way around the Internet, and the money made its way out of Dahntay Jones’ pocket.
Jones said he plans to appeal a $10,000 fine handed to him by the NBA for bumping Draymond Green during a postgame interview following Sunday’s game at Golden State.
“I didn't do it on purpose,” Jones said. “I don't have a reason to do it on purpose, but it’s cool. I apologize if I hurt his feelings.”
Jones said he didn’t think it was that big of a nudge and that “people run into people all the time.” Jones joked that he might be stronger than he thought.
“I would have just shrugged it off,” Jones said. “He wanted to make something of it, so it is what it is.”
Following the game, Green commented on the bump and said he “definitely” expected it to get reviewed by the NBA. Green claimed Jones wanted camera time and took a shot at Jones’ playing time.
“It’s probably his role on his team,” Green said. “I’ve had that role once before in my career a couple years ago, but I can’t afford to feed into that when I get into it with him after the game where I get fined, get suspended, hurt my team.”
Jones didn’t understand why the “bump” made its rounds or why Green brought it up afterward and wanted him to get fined. Jones said he didn’t even glance back at Green and that neither of them exchanged words.
“I don't even know him as an individual, so there's no bad blood,” Jones said. “Somebody had a good game and wanted a little bit more attention.”
Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said he got a text at 5:30 a.m. Monday from the NBA wanting to talk about the incident. At that point, he still hadn’t seen the video. He thought it had to have been bad, and after he saw it, he sarcastically commented on how it was “such” a violent bump.
“I told Dahntay, ‘You’ve got to be careful, that was too hard,’” Rivers joked. “I guess that tough guy in Golden State, the bump was too hard for him, clearly the way he reacted. My goodness.”
The Clippers and Warriors will match up for the fourth and final time this regular season on March 31 at STAPLES Center.
