Clippers combo guard Austin Rivers isn’t having a good week. Monday, Rivers rolled into teammate Blake Griffin’s leg while diving for a loose ball, and Griffin exited the game with a sprained MCL in his left knee. The Clippers beat the Lakers 120-115, but Griffin is expected to miss at least eight weeks while recovering.
Saturday, the NBA slapped Griffin with a $25,000 fine for an outburst directed at what appeared to be one of his own team’s fans during Thursday’s loss to the Utah Jazz.
Video of the incident, which you can view above, appears to show Rivers telling a court-side fan to shut up in the most NSFW of ways before being restrained by Clippers center DeAndre Jordan.
The only thing possibly more hilarious than Rivers cursing out one his own team’s fans days after reportedly injuring his own teammate, would be his explanation for the latter.
“He was being a fairweather ass fan,” Rivers explained, during post-game comments obtained by Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points. “He was talking shit about the team, but he was cheering the first half. And then the second half he was talking about Steve Ballmer and Doc and DJ and saying demeaning stuff to my other teammates [like], ‘Austin and DJ, y’all need help.’ I don’t like that. I like fans who ride or die with you, and there’s a lot of good ones here that show up to the game.”
As I said on the @NBALockdown podcast...clippers gonna CLIP!
As ESPN’s Cari Champion often says, “Clippers gonna clip.” As such, even one of the “ride or die” fans Rivers prefers, are calling for Clippers coach (and Austin’s father) Doc Rivers to be canned.
Longtime Clippers supporter Darrell “Clipper Darrell” Bailey took to Twitter with his own “Fire Doc Rivers” message, as the team continues to slump with an 8-12 record.
Friday, during one of the team’s media availability sessions, Rivers expressed contrition for dressing down the court-side fan.
“I definitely shouldn't have said anything,” Rivers told a group of reporters. “This is the message I want to say. I’m sorry for using profanity, but I was sticking up for my teammate, bottom line.”
