Matt Barnes is in desperate need of assistance. Urgently. The former NBA player once again made headlines recently after engaging in a confrontation with a high school announcer during his son’s basketball game. Barnes claimed that the high school senior had told him to “be quiet,” which led Barnes to approach the student and place his hand on the student’s shoulder.
The online discourse surrounding the incident continued, with Barnes disappointing fellow adults as more evidence emerged, undermining his version of events. As more witnesses from the game came forward to share their accounts, Barnes’ story began to crumble.
In response to one woman’s description of the incident on X, Barnes replied with a vulgar comment, shifting the blame onto the student announcer, Jake Lancer, for the altercation. He posted, “Stop talking nonsense. I was addressing the referee, not you or that kid who decided to make disrespectful remarks. Don’t let your privileged background get to your head. I don’t care who your son is.”
Barnes also targeted a reporter from the Sacramento Bee as he desperately tried to defend his reputation. He criticized reporter Jason Anderson, saying, “You and your pathetic colleagues always try to present one-sided stories.” He added, “You only reach out after the fact. Screw you!”
Barnes accused the announcer of telling him to “be quiet” during his heated argument with the official. The 43-year-old approached the student and placed his hand on his shoulder, leading nearby adults to intervene and fans in attendance to jeer Barnes as he disengaged from the altercation with the high school senior.
Audio from Crespi’s broadcast supported Jake Lancer’s version of events. The announcer continued to provide a detailed account of the game, even as Barnes stepped onto the court to argue with the referees over a technical foul called on his son.
During the live coverage, Lancer did not utter any offensive remarks towards Barnes. Lancer shared, “Matt Barnes is now on the court – or not on the court, but he’s right by the side of the court, just shouting. ‘You’re an (expletive).’ I mean, that’s absurd. He’s out on the court right now and no one is doing anything about it. I understand he’s an NBA player, but I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
Friday’s game between Harvard-Westlake High School and Crespi Carmelite High School briefly paused in the third quarter due to Barnes’ regrettable behavior.
Lancer commented on the incident after the game, saying, “Matt Barnes approached me and put his hands on me, actually. I’m fine, but… I don’t know.”
Alejandro Avila, a resident of Southern California who previously covered news for the LA Football Network, is an expert on Jeopardy and a grumpy sports enthusiast. He is known for having watched every movie and having an insatiable craving for dessert. @alejandroaveela (on X)