Barnes on Fisher incident: 'Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is'

With the Memphis Grizzlies set to host the New York Knicks on Saturday night, Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes has already said he plans to steer clear of Knicks head coach Derek Fisher, with whom he had a physical altercation in October.

He had some more strong words for Fisher a few hours before the two find themselves on the same basketball court.

"I just don't like him. Plain and simple," Barnes said, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. "He knows I don't like him. Don't say nothing to me, I don't plan on saying nothing to him. Don't try to shake my hand. There's none of that. There's nothing there. There never will be. Just stay away from me basically."

Barnes, who said he and Fisher used to be friends, was suspended two games by the league for the incident, in which he allegedly confronted and threatened his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate after learning that Fisher was dating his ex-wife. Several months of reflection later, Barnes still feels he did the right thing.

"Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is," he said. "And unfortunately, it happened. I don't regret it. Like, man to man knows who's wrong and who's right. ... Everyone from the top to bottom would've done the same thing. When it comes to family, it's family. Unfortunately, you have to watch who you call friends these days. That's it."

Barnes has continued to go after Fisher in the wake of the incident, calling him a "snake" and accusing him of being a "snitch" while Fisher has remained mum.

"Because he knows he's wrong. You know what I mean?" Barnes offered, by way of explanation for Fisher's silence on the matter. "And he already took one loss (in the fight). So what's the point?"