The NBA has a remarkable talent for generating a plethora of drama compared to other professional sports leagues. One example of this is the story involving two former teammates, Derek Fisher and Matt Barnes, who had a falling out after Barnes discovered that Fisher was involved with his wife.
While Derek Fisher may not receive the same level of recognition as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal for the Los Angeles Lakers’ three consecutive NBA titles at the turn of the millennium, he played a crucial role in that successful run.
On the other hand, Matt Barnes was still establishing himself as a player at UCLA when the Lakers’ dynasty began. However, he had the opportunity to play alongside Fisher for a season in 2006 during his time with the Warriors. The two men later became teammates again when Barnes joined the Lakers in 2010.
During their time sharing a locker room, Barnes considered Fisher a friend. However, it is evident that they had some unresolved issues based on an incident that occurred a few weeks before the start of the 2015 NBA season.
Barnes was playing for the Clippers when the 2015 season came to an end. However, he found himself in conflict with head coach Doc Rivers and was subsequently traded to Charlotte. He was later traded again, this time to the Grizzlies.
At the time, Barnes was going through a divorce from Gloria Govan, whom he had separated from in 2014. They had twin sons together in 2008 and got married in 2013, but their marriage quickly fell apart.
Before the 2015-2016 season, the Grizzlies organized training sessions in Santa Barbara, California. This gave Barnes an opportunity to spend time with his kids, who were living with their mother in Manhattan Beach. It was during this time that Barnes discovered Gloria had been seeing Fisher.
While driving back to Los Angeles with Gloria and his sons after practice, Barnes overheard a phone conversation between Gloria and Fisher. The call was accidentally connected to the Bluetooth in the car, and Barnes recognized Fisher’s voice whispering affectionate words to his soon-to-be ex-wife. Fisher, who was coaching the Knicks at the time, quickly realized the mistake and ended the call.
Enraged, Barnes vowed to confront Fisher and physically confront him the next time they crossed paths. Later that night, Barnes learned from his sons that Fisher had been at the house Barnes was still financially responsible for. His anger intensified, and after Gloria finally admitted to the affair, Barnes decided to pay them a visit.
Initial reports claimed that Barnes drove over 90 miles to confront Fisher. However, Barnes stated that it only took him around 15 minutes to travel from Marina del Rey to Fisher’s location. He arrived in a borrowed Bentley, blasting 2Pac’s music. On his way to Fisher’s house, Barnes called Gilbert Arenas to inform him that he might need assistance in getting out of jail later that night.
Upon arriving at the house, Barnes heard voices in the backyard. He jumped over the fence and discovered Fisher with his arm around Gloria, surrounded by a group of people she had invited over. Barnes approached Fisher and punched him in the face, sparking a chaotic scene where he chased Fisher around the house, attempting to continue the altercation while others tried to intervene.
Barnes left the house before the police arrived, thus avoiding criminal charges. However, the NBA later suspended him for two games and fined him $35,000. Despite the consequences, Barnes expressed no regrets during a media session, stating, “Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is.”
In 2021, Barnes revealed that he and Fisher had eventually reconciled. Fisher, who married Gloria that same year, is currently the coach of the high school basketball team that Barnes’ sons, Carter and Isaiah, play for.
According to the Source brobible.com