WATCH: Former NBA Player Matt Barnes Gets Into It With a High School Student at His Son’s Basketball Game
A high school basketball game was briefly halted over the weekend when former NBA player Matt Barnes had some words for the student announcer.
On Friday night, Harvard-Westlake School took on Crespi Carmelite High School in Los Angeles. Barnes’ son plays for Crespi.
In the third quarter of the game, Barnes was seen approaching student announcer Jake Lancer after his son was given a technical foul. He appeared to have some heated words with Lancer while he put his hand on his shoulder. Several adults swarmed the scene to get Barnes away from Lancer.
One tweet claimed Lancer told him to “shut up” after Barnes’ negative reaction to the technical foul.
Student told Matt Barnes to “shut up”.
Matt wanted all the smoke! 💨 #allthesmoke #mattbarnes pic.twitter.com/mQX4o2jabb— Stopmotionsports (@Stopmotionsport) February 3, 2024
Barnes also claimed Lancer said “some slick shit.”
Shut ur ass up. I was talking to the ref not you or that kid that decided to say some slick shit. Don’t let that privileged HW shit go to your head. Idgaf who your son is
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) February 3, 2024
Clips from the broadcast of the game, however, seem to contradict that claim. Moments before Barnes approached Lancer, the student announcer was simply giving commentary on the game in front of him. Then, Barnes made a scene when his son was given the technical foul.
“Matt Barnes now is onto the floor — or not on the floor, [but] he’s right on the side of the floor,” Lancer said, “just screaming, ‘You’re an expletive.” I mean, that’s ridiculous. He’s out onto the floor right now and there’s no one doing anything about it. I get he’s an NBA player, but I mean, I don’t think that’s — yeah.”
Shortly after, Barnes had some words for Lancer. He explained what happened on the broadcast as security came into the gym and the game was stopped. Barnes, surrounded by other adults, continued pointing in Lancer’s directions while talking.
“Matt Barnes kinda came up and just put his hands on me, actually,” Lancer said. “I mean, I’m all good but — I don’t know.
This is blatant disinformation. Jake Lancer is one of the most professional people I’ve ever worked with in broadcast or journalism. He did not say “shut up.” Here are videos of what he said immediately before and after the altercation. @Tarek_Fattal @latsondheimer https://t.co/QXwlfP0cOU pic.twitter.com/OUSedsNEEX
— Julian Andreone (@JulianAndreone) February 3, 2024
Lancer later told a reporter that Barnes threatened to “slap the shit out of” him.
HW student broadcaster Jake Lancer
This guy was on the court mid-game multiple times screaming ridiculous stuff at the refs and everyone, including myself was looking at him, we made eye contact and that was enough for him to come up to me and grip my shoulder with his hand.
— Jack Pollon (@pollonpreps) February 3, 2024
HW student broadcaster Jake Lancer, part two
He said “what do you think your looking at” and I said “you’re screaming ‘you’re a (term for a female private part)’ to the refs mid game while im trying to announce, don’t touch me” and then he said “I’ll slap the shit out of you”
— Jack Pollon (@pollonpreps) February 3, 2024
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