Clippers: Matias Testi is no longer with L.A.
Matias Testi, Blake Griffin’s punch victim and the assistant equipment manager, will not be on the Los Angeles Clippers staff for the 2016-17 season.
The Clippers confirmed that assistant equipment manager Matias Testi will not be on the staff next season, according to multiple reports.
However, the Clippers would not comment on why Testi would not return to the team, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne.
Testi could not be reached for comment either, according to the Daily News’ Dan Woike.
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The Clippers assistant equipment manager infamously entered the spotlight after an argument outside of a Toronto restaurant ended with star forward Blake Griffin breaking his right hand and Testi suffering facial injuries.
Griffin punched his friend Testi outside of the restaurant, so the All-Star forward got suspended four games and five game checks. Griffin did not return to the court until April 3.
After the incident, the two appeared to get over it. Testi and Griffin were seen shaking hands a month after the game, according to TMZ Sports.
In February, Griffin said he wished he could take the incident back.
“He [Testi] actually said it best: ‘This stuff happens and we’re like brothers and we just have to move on.’” Griffin said about the incident with the ex-staffer.
In May, head Coach and President Doc Rivers said the incident caught him off guard.
“It was a shock, because Blake’s not that guy.” Rivers said after the season. “Matias is not that guy. It just made no sense.”
No one knows exactly why Testi is no longer with the team. The team will not say if the fight had anything to do with it.
Regardless, it makes sense that both sides would move on. The incident was embarrassing for everyone involved.
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With Testi out of the picture, maybe he and the organization can move on.