Matt Barnes, former NBA player and close friend of Kobe Bryant, shares stories about winning a championship with the Warriors, his advice for athletes, and his friendship with Kobe. Topics include AAU evolution, love for Warriors & Clippers, advice for basketball players, friendship with Kobe Bryant, and trivia.
Matt Barnes shares a close bond with Kobe Bryant, transitioning from competitors to brothers, showcasing a personal side rarely seen in public.
Matt Barnes reminisces about his NBA career, discussing his eating habits, favorite post-game spot, and limited exploration of stadium foods.
Deep dives
Career in NBA and college
Matt Barnes played basketball in the NBA, starting with the 46th pick. He mentioned he scored 28 touchdowns in senior year at high school. Despite averaging 8.8 points during his time with the Magic in 81 games, his free-throw percentage at UCLA was 50.5%. His career high in the NBA was scoring 24 points during his time with the Lakers. Matt Barnes had a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, along with 2 steals and 0 blocks. Number 42 was the highest score by LeBron James in the game where they won their championship against the Cavaliers.
Relationship with Kobe Bryant
Matt Barnes shared a close relationship with Kobe Bryant. They transitioned from being competitors to teammates and eventually became like brothers. Kobe was particularly fond of Matt's twin sons, treating them like family. They continued to share a bond post-retirement, spending time coaching their children, and even interacting at NBA facilities, showing a personal side rarely seen in public.
Eating Habits and Arena Food
Matt Barnes spoke about his eating habits during his NBA career, mentioning wingstop as a favorite post-game choice. While he didn't explore food options at NBA arenas due to his focus on games and his routine, he recalled enjoying a monumental pretzel in Indiana. his experiences with stadium foods were limited to specific instances rather than a widespread exploration.
Sports Trivia and Entertainment
During a trivia session, Matt Barnes engaged in fun sports and entertainment trivia, recalling his stats from college and NBA games, friendships with fellow players, and interactions with fans. Despite not scoring high in the trivia, he showed a lighthearted and engaging attitude towards the questions and discussions, adding humor and personal insights throughout the session.
Matt Barnes sits down to be interviewed on this episode of the Sloane Knows! Podcast. Matt & Sloane discuss playing on nine different NBA teams over the course of his career, what advice Matt would give to any athlete, winning a ring with the Golden State Warriors at the end of his career, Barnes’ friendship with Kobe Bryant, and much more.
03:55 - AAU’s evolution 05:55 - Matt’s love for Warriors & Clippers 14:36 - Matt’s advice for basketball players 18:40 - Demarcus Cousins & Dwight Howard 20:08 - Friendship with Kobe Bryant 29:19 - Trivia