There are plenty of stories that have come out surrounding Robert Sarver and his situation in the NBA. The investigation into his behavior in the workplace and his mistreatment of some has led to a suspension, a fine, and his eventual decision to sell the team. And while players have always known that Sarver isn’t the best apple, few have had direct altercations with him.
During his playing career, Matt Barnes played for several organizations in the NBA, including the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers. He is known for being quite combative as a person as well, his fiery spirit coming out time and again on the court. As a player, Barnes fought quite a few people, including Derek Fisher, among others.
Matt Barnes Revealed The Story Of How He Told Robert Sarver He Would Slap Him
So it’s not surprising to hear that Barnes was involved in a bit of an altercation with Sarver as well. After he had left the Phoenix Suns, Sarver tried getting too cute with Barnes during a game and got a mouthful from Matt in return.
(starts at 1:37 minutes):
“I had a situation with him too, I want to say like in 2011 or 12 after I left there. I was in a game and I was talking to this 13-year-old kid and his dad courtside. You know me, I had a fun back-and-forth, talking trash, nothing bad about it. And someone was shooting a free throw, and I heard someone behind me say, ‘Don’t talk to my f**king fans. And I’m like, ‘Who’s he talking to?’ I turned around and it’s Sarver and I’m like, “Motherf**ker, I’ll slap the sh*t out of you in front of your wife.”
That is a pretty intense thing to say to an NBA owner, even if you don’t play for them anymore. And Matt Barnes wasn’t going to be the one to back down despite the power Sarver held as Suns owner. It makes for a wild story, and certainly says a lot about how players viewed Sarver.
Now that he is selling the Suns and the Mercury, he will no longer be affiliated with the NBA after it happens, so it wouldn’t be surprising if more stories of this nature came out. Not every player is like Barnes, but knowing everything we know about Sarver, it wouldn’t be surprising if this wasn’t the only time he’s almost gotten into a fight with a player.
