Scott Brooks on practice fights: 'It happens every year'
Scott Brooks claims verbal altercations such as the ones at Wizards practice last Thursday are nothing out of the ordinary during a typical NBA season.
"It happens every year," Brooks told The Junkies during his biweekly appearance, presented by Greenberg & Bederman. "Every team I've been on, every year there's arguments."
According to sources, John Wall and Jeff Green also got into it and their player-on-player verbal altercation led to Coach Scott Brooks trying to intervene and that's when Wall hurled an expletive at the coach.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) November 20, 2018"It doesn't always happen that it's physical, we haven't had that here, but I've had teams that I've been on that guys have gotten physical. I've been in fights before, and it happens. It's just two competitive guys, or multiple guys, in a competitive environment."
"And we're frustrated, let's face it. We're not happy with where we are, and everything is born out of frustration. And hopefully, I think the guys need to move on, and I think they did. Everybody's said their peace, and it's time to move on and time to play better basketball."
Washington certainly played better basketball Tuesday night, at least in the second half of the Wizards' incredible 125-118 win over the Clippers.
Trailing by as many as 24 in the first half, the Wizards stormed back in the final 24 minutes to earn a much-needed win.
John Wall lead all scorers with 30 points, two days after he was fined for cursing out Brooks at Thursday's practice.
3️⃣0️⃣ points8️⃣ assists5️⃣ 3-pointers4️⃣ rebounds2️⃣ blocks2️⃣ steals@JohnWall had himself a night in the win over the Clippers.#WizClippers | #DCFamily pic.twitter.com/zyG6Jjr8Ut
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 21, 2018"We said a few things back at each other," Brooks said regarding the incident. "We both wish we could have taken it back, and we have to move on."
"I respect him. He's a heck of a player, I love him. Like I said last night, he never complains about a lot ... Sometimes I wonder how he's gonna be able to practice today because he's banged up, but he comes back every day."
"It's unfortunate it happened, but it did happen, and we move on."
The 6-11 Wizards now move on to a tough stretch in the schedule: in the next five games, they face the Raptors, Pelicans (twice), Rockets and 76ers.
And after a week filled with drama and trade rumors, Brooks simply wants to see everyone, including himself, put in the effort they did in the second half Tuesday.
"Everybody has to take ownership of their own individual pride, and I have to do a better job of finding guys who are gonna do that consistently," he told The Junkies. "And when we don't have guys that do that, we gotta figure out ways we can move on from those guys."
"We have to be diligent in our work: myself, the coaches and the players, we all have to do our job and we have to do it to the best of our abilities."
"All the guys understand we've got to play better. And whether they accept what I tell them, that's beside the point. They gotta do their job, and I gotta do my job."
Gotta give credit when it's due. @JohnWall, @RealDealBeal23 and the @WashWizards responded in the 2nd half tonight. But why so lethargic in the 1st half? Nevertheless, nice comeback win tonight. #Wizards
— John-Paul Flaim (@GlassJoeJP) November 21, 2018Follow Josh Luckenbaugh and 106.7 The Fan on Twitter.
