The NBA has suspended Carmelo Anthony after a post-game incident with Kevin Garnett, during which the Knicks' player confronted the Celtics' forward after Garnett allegedly made crude comments about his wife, La La Vasquez.
Anthony has been suspended for one game, without pay, after confronting Garnett near the players' locker rooms and then again in the parking garage after Monday's game at Madison Square Garden, ESPN reported.
"There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable for a player to confront an opponent after a game," NBA executive vice president basketball operations Stu Jackson said in a statement obtained by ESPN on Wednesday. "Carmelo Anthony attempted to engage with Kevin Garnett multiple times after Monday's game and therefore a suspension was warranted."
The 28-year-old Knicks player claims Garnett crossed the line when he began trash-talking in the second half of the game, according to the New York Times. Anthony would not address rumors the comments regarded Vasquez.
"It’s something you just don’t say to men, another man,” Anthony said following the incident, according to the Daily News. He doesn't think he deserved the suspension, however. “Nothing happened for me to be suspended. I wanted to talk to K.G. and I think it was something we both needed to get off our chests and see what really was the problem. There were no altercations. It was just words and a conversation we just needed to have.”
Garnett allegedly told Anthony, "You're wife tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios," during the heated Eastern Conference game, Black Sports Online first reported. Neither Anthony nor Garnett has confirmed or denied whether the "Honey Nut Cheerios" rumor is true, according to TMZ.
Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers did flatly deny the rumor to WEEI in Boston on Thursday, even if he wouldn't specify exactly what it was.
"Well, No. 1, I know what's been reported did not happen," said Rivers. "I know that as a fact."
According to Rivers, the entire rumor -- and trending topic -- was a result of Anthony attempting to deflect attention from his own behavior.
"Guys, you know how this works," Rivers added. "You know how this works, a guy does something crazy like Carmelo did, and the way to get of trouble is to say someone else said this. It happens all the time. And what bugs me about this is that this is not a Kevin Garnett issue. And it was made into one and it shouldn't have been made into one."
After the supposed "Honey Nut Cheerios" jab, speculation flew that Vasquez cheated on Anthony with Garnett, according to the New York Post. A source told the Post that "La La has never slept with Garnett," but said she and Anthony are living separate lives.
The New York Daily News also reported that the two, who married in 2010, are estranged.
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