NBA suspends Clippers’ Matt Barnes after arrest; he calls it a ‘joke’
Matt Barnes is poised to miss the Clippers’ opener against the Grizzlies. (Harry How/Getty Images)
By Ben Golliver
Matt Barnes avoided jail time with a “no contest” plea following a July arrest, but he didn’t avoid an NBA-mandated timeout.
The league office announced Tuesday that the Clippers forward would be suspended one game without pay after he pleaded no contest to “resisting, delaying or obstructing an officer” during an incident that originally had him booked on a felony charge for threatening a police officer. The Associated Press reported in September that Barnes was ordered to complete 30 hours of community service and attend 13 counseling sessions after he pleaded “no contest” to misdemeanor charges.
The Clippers open the 2012-13 regular season against the Grizzlies at the Staples Center on Wednesday. Barnes will miss that game.
“My suspension handed down by the NBA [today] is a JOKE,” Barnes wrote on Twitter. “But best of luck [to] my team [tomorrow] vs. a tough Memphis team and I’ll be ready for Friday vs. Lakers.”
Los Angeles has a whole bevy of wings on its roster, but not all of them are currently available. Forward Grant Hill is sidelined with a knee injury and Chauncey Billups, who generally plays off the ball, is still recovering from an Achilles injury. Barnes’ absence will leave Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro with only starter Caron Butler at the 3; free-agent acquisitions Jamal Crawford and Willie Green will be available at the 2. Combo forward Lamar Odom also told ESPNLA.com on Monday that he plans to be ready for the Clippers’ season opener after missing time during camp due to a bone bruise in his knee.
Barnes, 32, was reportedly recruited to the Clippers by All-Star guard Chris Paul after he spent the previous two seasons with the crosstown Lakers. Prior to signing with the Clippers in September, Barnes said that he was looking to move past his arrest.
“Hopefully we’ll get this arrest situation out of the way so I can go ahead and move forward with my career,” he told TMZ.com in an August interview.
Barnes, a physical defender known for his high-energy style and willingness to play mind games, averaged 7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.9 minutes per game last season.
I don't like Barnes as a player, but there's always 2 sides to the story. Lots of bad cops out there and if you're a black guy driving around in an expensive car, you better watch out for the CHP.
@Bahia yes because all the ghetto A$$ , newly rich rappers, basket / football players are all saints, they never get into fights at night clubs, they never beat their famous girl friends, they never shoot them selves by accidents, they never dog fight. Nope that's all a conspiracy damn those cops for doing their job and enforcing the law.. lets pull out the race card some more..
@klovingston81 @Bahia
Every black athlete or singer is not ghetto. That is a racist staement.
You are beyond naive if you think all cop do their job & enforce the law. It's not like cops ever stop, shoot, beat, kill, frame people because of their race.
But I guess that would be the blind white man card.....
Ole Matt, even at his age, still has trouble seeing the big picture. And with twets like that he keeps piling dirt on top of his grave. See the world through gratitude tinted lenses and none of this would ever happen, Mr. Barnes.
If Matt Barnes spent as much time in the gym as he does at the tattoo parlor, he wouldn't be the joke of the NBA! Dude went O for the entire playoffs with the Lakers...and kept shooting that broke @$$ jumper every time he touched the ball! That's why he's a clipper and not a Laker!
he is not a thug.. he is a fake thug
Barnes is a thug. He had his "boys" threaten to kill my buddy at a club because he chatted with his gf in line for a drink. Loser
@SL
Was that with his girl friend or gay friend
Typical athlete........ehhhhhhhh I am special, I can act like a thug....friggin idiot. Hopefully next time they throw the book at you.
Matt Barnes is a worthless sack of skin.
Just saw him on Ink Master as a celebrity tattoo judge. He didn't strike me as a thug, but oh well.
If he could somehow get suspended for the entire season the Clippers might be in good shape.
Is he serious? Regular folk would probably lose their job, yet Matt Barnes is crying about a one game suspension? Just another self entitled jerk.
This is an example of overpaid arrogance,,,,,,,people who produce nothing tangible for society obtaining inordinate salaries.
@mjohnsimmons Absolutely. But you have to blame the middle and upper class fans that pay all that money on NBA-related goods (tickets, advertisements, etc...). Even though I do like Basketball and watch as many games as I can, I'll NEVER pay for a ticket or buy a jersey. Essentially your buying into someone who adds nothing beneficial to society beyond some mild entertainment.
@epaul @mjohnsimmons
You are buying into it by even watching the games. So you are not above it. Just because one is a athlete does not mean they add nothing to society.
Matt Barnes is the joke.