Bulls try to downplay last month’s confrontation between Del Negro, Paxson

Bulls try to downplay Del Negro-Paxson spat

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Chicago Bulls tried to downplay last month’s confrontation between coach Vinny Del Negro and vice president of basketball operations John Paxson on Wednesday night, just before they avoided the distractions to clinch a playoff berth.

In a statement released before their 98-89 win over Charlotte secured the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, general manager Gar Forman confirmed there was an “internal disagreement” that was the result of each “expressing their passion” about the well-being of players and the desire to win.

Yahoo! Sports reported Paxson grabbed Del Negro’s tie and shoved him before being restrained by assistant coaches in a dispute over forward Joakim Noah’s playing time after a game against Phoenix on March 30.

Noah, who was recovering from a foot injury, was having his minutes monitored. The report said Paxson was upset that Noah played too much in the game, which had become a long-running dispute with his coach.

“The event occurred in Coach Del Negro’s office, not in the locker room and not in front of the players, as some wrongly have reported,” Forman said. “This disagreement, while not communicated well by either party in the heat of the moment and in the immediate aftermath of a tough loss, was a result of conflicting views, but all based on the fine balance required to ensure both the immediate and long-term success of the team and the health of its players.”

ESPNChicago.com reported on Wednesday, citing an unidentified source, that it was Del Negro that initiated the physical contact in the incident. Del Negro vehemently denied that in his pregame media availability before the Bobcats game.

“That’s inaccurate. That’s 100 percent false,” Del Negro said. “But this thing is funny because you have guys that care, guys that are competitive. It’s unfortunate that it had to come out, but the most important thing is to focus on the game tonight, the players and the effort that they’re putting in and all those things will take of themselves at the end of the season. Hopefully, that’s not for a while.”

Forman said they wouldn’t announce any disciplinary action until after the season. There had been widespread speculation before the report that Del Negro could be fired despite having another year left on his contract.

“The Bulls have a full and complete understanding of what took place, but, as requested by all parties, will address the attendant issues with the participants after the season is over,” Forman said. “At this point, everyone intends to keep focused on the remaining games.”

The Bulls will face top-seeded Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs.

“It’s not about me. It’s about the players,” Del Negro said. “Players win games. I’m very proud of the way the guys have hung together all year, through a lot of things.”