Feb. 17--Saying he was "truly, truly sorry," Blake Griffin apologized Tuesday for punching Clippers assistant equipment manager Matias Testi last month in an incident at a Toronto restaurant that left Griffin with a broken right hand and Griffin's longtime friend with a swollen face.
"It's something I think about every day and wish I could take it back," Griffin said during a four-minute session with the media at the Clippers' practice facility, "and I've told Matias that."
Griffin was suspended four games and docked five games' pay for the altercation that was triggered by teasing that went too far for his liking. He said he believed his friendship with Testi was salvageable.
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"I have talked to Matias tons of times since the incident," Griffin said. "He actually said it best: 'This stuff happens and we're like brothers and we just have to move on.' "
Griffin is expected to be sidelined until sometime next month by his injury and ensuing suspension. He wore a black wrapping over the hand Tuesday.
Clippers Coach Doc Rivers reiterated the team wasn't trading Griffin and said he was "assuming" both Griffin and Testi would rejoin the team Thursday when it plays its first game after the All-Star break against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center.
Griffin started his session with reporters with a 55-second address in which he said he had already spoken with his teammates and coaches but wanted to apologize to fans.
"It's something that I feel awful about, something that I haven't had to deal with ever before in life and it's been tough," Griffin said, "but now that the NBA has done their due diligence and the Clippers and I have my punishment, I'm looking forward to just moving on and moving past this and getting back on the court with our teammates."
Griffin said he did not believe he needed anger management courses. He said the hardest part was having let his teammates and family down as well as the Clippers' franchise and fans.
But he said he had been widely encouraged in his conversations with teammates, coaches and other Clippers staffers.
"The theme has been that everybody makes mistakes," Griffin said. "We have all done things we regret. Everybody has just said, 'Get back healthy and come back and join us.' "
Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter @latbbolch
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