Former NBA player and ‘All the Smoke’ podcast host, Matt Barnes, is set to etch his name in history. The California native will soon be inducted into the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame on February 4 at the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln. Alongside the Sacramento Kings legend, Team USA para cyclist Jamie Whitmore, baseball players Leon Lee and Nick Johnson, and others will become part of the hall’s ninth class.
Sharing the stage with Barnes is another NBA luminary, James Donaldson. Expressing his elation about receiving the honor from his hometown, Matt Barnes opened up about his emotions. The 2017 NBA champion also took a moment to pay tribute to the most important person in his life.
“I loved school overall, but my last so-called taste of high school didn’t end very well, but I’m very happy to be honored by the Sac Hall of Fame and can’t wait to be introduced by one of the women I love most in this world, my sister,” Barnes told The Observer.
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His sister has always held a special place and role in his life. At the age of 8, the player and his family moved to Sacramento, where the challenges they encountered, alongside his sister, strengthened their bond.
Matt Barnes’ inspiring journey into the league
The NBA star has seen an amazing success in his position in the media. But did you know that the Sacramento legend possessed prowess in multiple sports? Despite having extraordinary talent in both basketball and football, Matt Barnes opted for basketball.
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Following this, fans witnessed his dedication to the sport across his 14-season NBA career. He was drafted in the second round of the 2002 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. His ascent to NBA success was far from simple, as he faced numerous challenges on his path to the top.
This commitment paid off when Barnes clinched an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2017. Following this, he retired from the league and started to venture into the sports media. Barnes made notable appearances on ESPN’s The Jump and Get Up, as well as co-hosting Showtime Sports’ podcast All the Smoke.
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Along with his own brand called Swish, he also founded Athletes vs. Cancer. It’s a commendable initiative providing resources for the families of cancer patients while raising awareness about innovative treatments. The former NBA star will finally get recognized for his contributions.
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