WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- The Detroit fan who authorities say threw a cup that hit Indiana forward Ron Artest and started a brawl during a Pistons-Pacers game now describes Artest as a "thug."

John Green, a 39-year-old contractor from the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield Township, made the comments Tuesday during an appearance with his lawyer, Shawn Smith, on ABC's "Good Morning America."

"Ron Artest went through the stadium punching people the whole night," Green said. "He was being a thug."

Green also denied throwing the cup at Artest.

"Tthe cup was hurled from the general vicinity of where I was," Green said. "Ron Artest gets hit, he looked up. We were shocked that the cup hit him, a few of us around in the area, and he looked up at us and he started charging up there."

Artest said Tuesday he wishes he hadn't gotten into a fight with fans but feels his season-ending suspension was too harsh.

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"I don't think it was fair -- that many games," Artest said in an interview with NBC's "Today" show. "I respect (NBA Commissioner) David Stern's decisions, but I don't think I should have been out for the whole season."

On Monday, Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca said Green was the fan who threw a cup that hit Artest. Gorcyca also said footage showed that once Artest was in the stands, Green grabbed him from behind and sucker-punched him.

Charges have not yet been brought in the Friday brawl as police in Auburn Hills continue to investigate.

Green, through his lawyer, declined to speak with The Associated Press on Tuesday. But he told reporters Monday that it may have looked like he threw the cup, but he didn't. On Tuesday, he described the scene of the brawl to "Good Morning America."

"From where I was, the cup was hurled in the general vicinity of where I was. Ron Artest got hit. He looked up. We were shocked the cup hit him," Green said. "He looked up at us and started charging up there. It was pretty shocking. I didn't know what to think. I haven't been in too many fights in my life."

Green described himself as a respected businessman with a wife and two children.

"I don't go around breaking the law," he said. "If they have found that I broke the law, I'll pay the price."

Gorcyca said Green was on probation for his third offense of driving under the influence. Green's record also includes a 1988 assault with intent to do great bodily harm, an attempt to escape from custody that same year, a conviction for carrying a concealed weapon in 1986, and a conviction for check fraud, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections' online database.

Court records also show that Green was convicted of trying to bribe a Bloomfield Hills police officer with Pistons tickets to try to get out of a traffic ticket in 1988. Green pleaded guilty to attempted bribery of the officer, who is now the Oakland County sheriff, Michael Bouchard, the Detroit Free Press reported in Wednesday editions.

Green, who said he was not drinking Friday night, said he grabbed Artest from behind, trying to get him to stop attacking another fan.

"He (Artest) kicked me from behind a couple of times, in my shin. And then when he did that, which got me mad, then I in turn ... got a little bit angry, at the time," he said.

Pistons chief executive Tom Wilson said Green will be banned from The Palace.