CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chicago Bulls general manager Gar Forman is downplaying last month's confrontation between coach Vinny Del Negro and vice president of basketball operations John Paxson.

In a statement released before Wednesday's regular-season finale against Charlotte, 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 in a dispute over forward Joakim Noah's minutes after a game on March 30. Noah was recovering from a foot injury.

Del Negro said before the Charlotte game that it's "unfortunate" that the story came out.