LOS ANGELES (AP) -Gordan Giricek is back with the Utah Jazz, a week after coach Jerry Sloan ordered him to the locker room during a road game against Charlotte and then sent him home.
The sixth-year veteran guard was in uniform Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers after spending the last three games back in Salt Lake City. But he declined to detail the reasons for his heated discussion with Sloan during a timeout in the second quarter of Utah’s 98-92 loss at Charlotte on Dec. 19.
“It’s not something that we’ll discuss right now,” Giricek said at his locker. “We all have the knowledge that we’re going to move forward. We smoothed things out, and it’s going to get better. It’s always better to be on the court, not at home, so I’m happy. Now I’m back with the team, so we’ll go from here see what happens.”
When asked before the game if Giricek’s three-game absence could be classified as a suspension, Sloan said: “I guess you could call it that, but there was no fine involved. We just had a little verbal exchange that got a little bit too far out of hand. It’s not a big deal, really. We’re going to go about our business and see what happens. He’s here and I’m here, and that’s the way life is.”
As far as Giricek’s role on the club is concerned, Sloan said: “His role is to play. If and when I say `We need you in the game,’ that’s what he’s got to be ready to do.”
Sloan and general manager Kevin O’Connor met with Giricek before practice Thursday, leaving Giricek with the impression that Sloan is willing to let this incident blow over.
Giricek, who entered Friday averaging 4.3 points in 12.7 minutes per game, played a season-high 24 minutes on Nov. 12 against Sacramento. But he was dropped from the rotation 13 games into the season, and played only 4 minutes in each of his previous two contests – including the Bobcats game.
But he emphasized that wasn’t the reason for his blowup with Sloan, and he’s taking a wait-and-see attitude regarding the rest of the season.
“I was (bumped) down to the third shooting guard. But things change during the season, and in a minute it can turn around. So I’ll just wait and be patient,” Giricek said.
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