Jordan Bell Speaks On Suspension, Offers His Side Of The Story

It’s been a rough year for Warriors’ second year center Jordan Bell both on and now off the court. Bell was suspended for Wednesdays game due to what the Warriors called “conduct detrimental to the team” but what we now know was for charging a candle to assistant coach Mike Brown’s hotel room. In an interview with Logan Murdock of NBCS Bay Area Bell spoke on the unfortunate situation.

“I think we're all good. I think everybody knows it was something I thought would be funny, as a joke that turned out not to be the way someone else took it, as a joke. So I have to be respectful of people's space, and even though I think something's funny, it might not be funny to them. Just to chill out.”

Bell was asked what his favorite tweet making light of the situation was.

“I don't want to give anybody credit for making something stupid like that, but I thought it was funny. People thought it was pornography and all that. I was more so embarrassed [about the allegations of buying porn] because of my family. I know my family talks a lot about me to their friends and are proud of me.”

“So seeing that, I know they're going to get hit with that, and it's very embarrassing, but I just wanted to clear that up.”

Kevin Durant among other teammates came to the defense of Bell after the situation began to unravel. He shared some insight on the second year player with Murdock of NBCS Bay Area.

"It's his second year in the league, Durant said. "You're going to go through ups and downs, from family, to on the court, to practice, to with your teammates. You're still adjusting to the life, and it's even worse for him coming into a championship organization or team that expects him to be on top of his game at all times, and that's kind of impossible for a second-year player, especially a guy that's not getting consistent minutes and not in the rotation for part of the year.”

Bell seems to be suffering from the dreaded Sophomore Slump this year as his numbers have taken a dip as well as his minutes. There was a situation he had a few months ago at Staples Center with Warriors’ Head Coach Steve Kerr late in a game in which the outcome had already been decided where both Kerr and Bell were seen on the sidelines jawing at each other. Bell needed to be calmed down by Kevin Durant shortly after Kerr walked away from him.

Bell will be back from suspension tonight as the Warriors will face the Timberwolves at the Target Center. Frustrations aside it would be in Bell’s best interest to not get caught up in any more drama both on or off the court as he is on the second year of a two-year $2.1 million deal with the team. The Warriors have the option of extending a qualifying offer in the summer but it remains unclear what direction the team will go.

Joseph Azizi