Los Angeles Clippers star Matt Barnes has apologised to the mother of James Harden after he said something to her during Game 2 against the Houston Rockets.
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While Monja Ellis confirmed that the Clippers forward did say something to her during the game, she wouldn’t disclose exactly what was said.
However, it was enough for Harden’s brother to confront him after the game and ask him to apologise to her, which Barnes did and Ellis has shared his words with TMZ.
“My older son walked over to him and told him to apologize … and he did.”
“What he told me was that he would never want to disrespect anyone’s mother because his mother passed from cancer … and that he was sorry.”
“I accept his apology.”
It is understood that the Rockets have informed the NBA about Barnes’ verbal exchanges with fans in both games of the series, but this clearly is overstepping the mark by involving family members of the opposing team.
Rockets coach Kevin McHale insisted that the trash talk should stay on the court and shouldn’t have involved Harden’s mother, with players expected to address their rivals like he admits he did during his time in the league as a player.
Meanwhile, Doc Rivers echoed those sentiments and suggested that it should be fun in nature otherwise it is clear that the boundaries have been passed.
Rivers has in fact been heard joking with Rockets fans in this series with both parties seemingly enjoying the exchange, however Barnes clearly had other intentions and a different result.
The Clippers star has already been fined $25,000 for directing inappropriate language at fans this season, and he could be facing another one in the coming days.
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