Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson apologized Tuesday for a physical altercation he had with Vinny Del Negro earlier this year.

Chicago fired Del Negro on Tuesday.

Bulls general manager Gar Forman said the altercation on March 30 after a game against the Phoenix Suns had nothing to do with Del Negro's dismissal.

"I want to apologize to fans and Vinny for what happened March 30 after the Phoenix game," Paxson said. "I hold myself accountable and responsible. I am not at all proud of how I handled the situation. I felt that at the time I was representing and standing up for a policy we put in place. I felt that way."

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