'I exercised poor judgment': Griffin remorseful for actions
Blake Griffin spoke to media Tuesday for the first time since the January incident in which he broke his hand punching Los Angeles Clippers equipment manager Matias Testi.
"I exercised poor judgment," Griffin told reporters. "It's something I feel awful about."
Griffin broke the fourth metacarpal bone in his right shooting hand striking Testi, a close friend, during a night out while the Clippers were on the road in Toronto.
Griffin, voice shaking, apologized to LAC fans. Said he regrets decisions he made that night and he's spoken to Matias Testi multiple times
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) February 16, 2016
"It's something I think about every day and wish I could take it back," Griffin said. "I've told Matias that."
Griffin's expected to be out until at least the end of February. Clippers coach and general manager Doc Rivers said Tuesday the power forward won't miss the rest of the season, but added there's no timetable yet for his return.
Blake Griffin said his hand was better but was still wearing a black wrap on it.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) February 16, 2016
Since the incident, trade rumors have swirled around Griffin, which Rivers shot down again Tuesday.
"We're not trading Blake," Rivers said. "I think Blake and his people know what's going on. I think it's affected ESPN and all the talk shows," he added.
Griffin was out for 13 games prior to the punching incident with a quad injury. The Clippers have performed better than anyone expected in his absence, going 18-5.