Matt Barnes, Who Almost Punched Kobe Bryant Once, Gets Real on the Mamba’s “Dirty” Game

Kobe Bryant was a phenomenon. His impact on both on and off the court was incredible. However, everyone knows Kobe was a competitor and he could do anything to win on the court. There are several instances of him trash-talking to his opponents. However, Kobe managed to handle it well. Once, Matt Barnes pump-faked a pass in front of Kobe’s face and he didn’t even flinch.

The Matt Barnes-Kobe incident video clip was trending on social media for a while at that time. It’s insane how cold Kobe was at that moment when Matt faked the pass in front of his face. However, Matt Barnes went on to play for the Lakers and he revealed that it was Kobe who invited him.

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After spending a season with the Magic, Matt Barnes was looking at the options for next season and was about to sign for Miami Heat. However, Kobe called him and persuaded him to join the Lakers. Matt Barnes, now retired, has now provided some insights on Kobe’s dirty game.

Matt Barnes talks about Kobe Bryant and his dirty side

Former NBA star Matt Barnes recently appeared on JJ Redick‘s podcast. During the podcast, he revealed his incident with Kobe and then claimed that Kobe was a ‘dirty’ player.

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“That’s what people don’t know about Kobe,” Matt Barnes said. “Like, and you got the garden, but he’s a dirty m*********er. Elbow you, grab you. Let me out with me in my sternum and knocked the wind out of me. And I wanted to like really like just grab him and fight right there.”

Barnes wanted to win a championship and was keen on joining Miami Heat in 2010. However, he grew up in California, admiring Magic Johnson and his Lakers. So, when Kobe called, Barnes couldn’t decline the offer and joined the Lakers a few days later. He spent two seasons with the Lakers.

While he couldn’t win a championship with the Lakers, it was a memorable time of his career as he played for a team he idolized during his childhood. Moreover, he got the opportunity to play alongside an all-time NBA great in Kobe.