Matt Barnes Los Angeles Lakers

After meeting him a few times, I finally discussed the subject of “Credit, Money and Finance” with Matt at the “Bullets for Peace” red carpet party. Matt Barnes is a class act and total champion.

 

Matt Barnes Los Angeles Lakers

Matt Barnes Los Angeles Lakers

 

College and professional career

After a college career at UCLA, Barnes was a second-round draft choice of the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2002 NBA Draft. He was then traded that summer along with Nick Anderson to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Wesley Person, but was cut that October. He has since played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Sacramento Kings, the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Golden State Warriors, the Phoenix Suns, and the Orlando Magic.

He was traded by the Kings halfway through the 2004–05 season along with Chris Webber to the 76ers, in exchange for Kenny ThomasCorliss Williamson and Brian Skinner, though he never suited up for a game with them due to knee tendinitis. He was waived and then signed a free agent contract with the New York Knicks in the 2005 NBA offseason. He was waived by the Knicks during the 2005–06 season after playing six games. He was then claimed by the 76ers to serve a second stint in Philadelphia,[2] where he finished out the season.

Barnes signed with the Golden State Warriors before their first day of training camp in October 2006,[3] and has effectively raised his status in the league since joining the team. With struggling forward Mike Dunleavy, Jr.placed on the bench, Barnes was given more playing time by coach Don Nelson. On December 26, 2006, he hit 7 three-point field goals to tie a Warriors franchise record.[4] The record was broken later that season by Jason Richardson, who hit 8 three-pointers on March 29, 2007.[5] Barnes, a high-school All-American wide receiver, says that if he had not been signed by the Warriors he would have tried out for the NFL.[6]

Before signing with Golden State, Barnes had only made 10 three-pointers in his career. In the 2006–07 season, he made 106. After joining Golden State, Matt’s offense improved impressively, from 3 points a game in Philadelphia to 9.8, appearing in 76 games. He also added a strong 2007 post-season, with 11.1 ppg and 5.7 rpg in eleven playoff games and helped the #8 seed Warriors take down the #1 seed Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs.

On August 6, 2007, Barnes returned to the Warriors under a one-year contract.[7]

Barnes, along with teammates Stephen Jackson and Baron Davis, served as a Warriors team captain for the 2007–08 season.[8] He was not expected to return for the 2008–09 season.[9]

On July 22, 2008, Barnes signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Suns.[10]

On November 14, 2008, Barnes was suspended for two games without pay for his role in a fight after a non-call foul on Rafer Alston.[11]

On July 23, 2009, Barnes signed a two-year deal with the Orlando Magic. Although he was able to opt out of his deal after the first year, Barnes stated that he would like to remain in Orlando.[12] After the Magic were eliminated in the 2010 NBA Playoffs by the Boston Celtics, Barnes announced he would opt out of the final year of his contract.[13] On July 23, 2010, he signed with the Lakers.[14]

Career transactions

Barnes with the Suns

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG Minutes per game
 FG% Field-goal percentage  3P% 3-point field-goal percentage  FT% Free-throw percentage
 RPG Rebounds per game  APG Assists per game  SPG Steals per game
 BPG Blocks per game  PPG Points per game  Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2003–04 L.A. Clippers 38 9 19.1 .457 .154 .705 4.0 1.3 .7 .1 4.5
2004–05 Sacramento 43 9 16.6 .411 .227 .603 3.1 1.3 .7 .2 3.8
2005–06 New York 6 5 15.5 .367 .250 .750 4.0 1.0 .7 .0 4.3
2005–06 Philadelphia 50 0 10.8 .536 .182 .674 1.9 .4 .3 .1 3.0
2006–07 Golden State 76 23 23.9 .438 .366 .732 4.6 2.1 1.0 .5 9.8
2007–08 Golden State 73 18 19.4 .423 .293 .747 4.4 1.9 .7 .5 6.7
2008–09 Phoenix 77 40 27.0 .423 .343 .743 5.5 2.8 .7 .3 10.2
2009–10 Orlando 81 58 25.9 .487 .319 .740 5.5 1.7 .7 .4 8.8
2010–11 L.A. Lakers 53 0 19.2 .470 .318 .779 4.3 1.3 .7 .4 6.7
2011–12 L.A. Lakers 63 16 22.9 .452 .333 .742 5.5 2.0 .6 .8 7.8
Career 560 178 21.3 .447 .329 .729 4.5 1.7 .7 .4 7.3

Playoffs

 

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2007 Golden State 11 3 30.0 .450 .422 .722 5.7 2.4 1.5 .4 11.1
2010 Orlando 14 14 23.3 .400 .375 .850 4.7 1.4 .7 .2 6.4
2011 L.A. Lakers 10 0 13.1 .395 .167 .571 2.8 .5 .7 .2 3.6
2012 L.A. Lakers 11 0 16.8 .271 .161 .500 3.3 1.5 .9 .4 3.5
Career 46 17 21.1 .390 .317 .735 4.2 1.4 .9 .3 6.2

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