CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The frustration of losing has started to boil over for the NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats.
A Bobcats executive confirmed there was an altercation Sunday night in the team locker room between coach Paul Silas and forward Tyrus Thomas.
The incident, first reported by Yahoo, took place after Charlotte’s 94-82 loss to the Boston Celtics. It was confirmed by President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins.
According to the report, Silas took exception to Thomas for fraternizing with some Celtics players and yelled at him after the game. Shouting ensued and the 68-year-old Silas shoved Thomas toward his locker stall and the two were separated.
Higgins says the incident has been handled internally. Silas declined to comment.
When asked prior to Wednesday night’s game against Chicago if he and Thomas are on the same page, Silas responded, “we always were.”
Thomas has three years remaining on his contract and is owed $26 million by the Bobcats. The team also owes the Bulls a protected first-round pick for Thomas as part of the trade that brought him to Charlotte.
Thomas is averaging just 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and is shooting just 36 percent from the field.
Before the game, Thomas was asked about the incident and said, “Rod made a statement initially and we’re going to leave it at that.”
Thomas said he and Silas have put the incident behind them.
“We’re great,” Thomas said. “We’ve had a game since and Rod made a statement on it and that’s all that is necessary.”
The frustration is certainly understandable.
The Bobcats are mired in a franchise-record 17-game losing streak and they’ve already clinched the worst record in the league.
“It’s tough on all us having lost as many games as we have,” Silas said. “That’s just the way it is with injuries and so forth. But we’re not going to get down. We’re going to stay up.”
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