Blake Griffin has been suspended without pay for four games for striking a team employee, the Clippers announced Tuesday.
Griffin hurt his hand Jan. 23 in an altercation with a member of the Los Angeles Clippers' staff on the team's road trip in Toronto. He was just nearing a return from another injury.
Coach Doc Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer issued a statement Tuesday.
"We have made it clear that this conduct has no place in the Clippers organization," according to the statement. "Blake is remorseful and has apologized for his actions. He is a valued member of our Clippers family and we support him as he rejoins the team. He understands his actions have consequences, and is eager to get back to work with his teammates, the organization and Clipper Nation which starts immediately with rehab, appearances and attendance at games."
The team and NBA worked together to determine Griffin's punishment, which includes withheld wages for one game due to the injury that resulted from the punch, according to the statement. Griffin's salary from those five games will be donated to charities for disadvantaged youth, the team said.
Griffin received X-rays on Jan. 25 in Los Angeles that revealed the injury, the team said. He underwent a procedure on his hand later that week.
Recovery time from the injury is approximately four to six weeks, the team said.
The Los Angeles Times, citing a team spokesman, reported that the equipment staff member involved in the altercation was not fired.
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Griffin returned to Los Angeles early from the five-game road trip that included the stop in Toronto. He had been out since Dec. 26 with a partially torn left quadriceps tendon, but was close to returning when the incident occurred.
The Clippers at Boston Wednesday night before resuming play Feb. 18 after the All-Star break.
Last fall, Griffin was involved in an altercation at a Las Vegas nightclub. A man accused the All-Star forward of taking his cellphone and grabbing him after the man photographed Clippers players inside the club. The misdemeanor battery case later was dropped after prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence.
Griffin apologized for the Toronto incident.
pic.twitter.com/DCKYHjSgZs — Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin32) January 27, 2016
