PJ Hairston addresses altercation, NFL player Josh Gordon's DWI arrest
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- During an interview Thursday, Charlotte Hornets rookie P.J. Hairston addressed last weekend's two incidents that have him and an NFL player facing charges.
Hairston was charged with assault and battery after a local high school basketball player said the former UNC player and Charlotte Hornets rookie punched him twice while they were playing a recreational game at a Durham YMCA on Sunday.
Kentrell Barkley said he did not throw any punches.
However, Hairston's agent said the 17-year-old did push Hairston, and he pushed back.
"Trying to make a name for himself by competing hard against a NBA player and tempers flared ... This happens in a pickup game, this is nothing new, but just because of P.J. Hairston people making it more than what it seems to be," Juan Morrow said. "He swung at P.J., and P.J. swung back ... both connected."
"I'm still in the maturing process," Hairston said in an interview Thursday. "I'm still growing up and I still have a lot of growing up to do. Life is life and you are still going to make mistakes."
On Thursday, WSOC-TV reported that Hairston also explained the connection he had to troubled Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon.
Raleigh police charged the NFL player with drunk driving early Saturday morning after an officer spotted him driving 50 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone on Glenwood Avenue.
He blew a .09., according to arrest warrants. Court documents also indicated Gordon was driving a car with a North Carolina license tag, which was registered to Hairston.
Hairston said he met Gordon at the Fresh Market in Chapel Hill and they decided to exchange cars for the day, according to the interview on WSOC's website. He said he didn't think it was a big deal.
He said later learned Haydn "Fats" Thomas paid $500 to bond out Gordon. Thomas was linked to rental cars driven by Hairston while he was playing for Carolina.
