What was earlier a hint of support for Joel Embiid is now a firm stance from Matt Barnes. As most fans would know, Embiid faced a 3 game suspension following his locker room altercation with columnist Marcus Hayes. An X user took the opportunity and used Barnes’ popular quote—“Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is”—to justify Embiid’s approach.

Barnes had replied with “sometimes” without offering much clarity about his stand on the issue. But now he is out in the open with it. Not just with his opinion on the incident, but the larger issue of disrespect towards athletes from media as well as some fans. Apart from Embiid, the Jason Kelce incident comes to mind.

Matt Barnes comes down on Marcu Hayes and a certain section of the media

The ex-Lakers star noted that criticism is something all athletes have to deal with. Especially star athletes, MVPs, team leaders, and those making max deals. Something he believes does not bother these stars to an extent. But the media crosses a line when they bring families into it. “And think that sh*t is going to be okay. He’s lucky it wasn’t more. I’ve been saying for a while that the line has been blurred or erased with the disrespect that the media has towards the players. It’s less journalism these days and more just hot takes,” Barnes said.

For those unaware, Marcus Hayes had written a column that mentioned Embiid’s deceased brother as well as his son—both named Arthur. “Next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I’m going to do to you,” the 76ers star told Hayes during their locker room altercation. As per the reports, JoJo even pushed the columnist by his shoulder.

Taking into consideration the origin of this feud, Matt Barnes highlighted on his podcast that all some journalists care about is what can go viral. Barnes highlighted how, despite all of this, it’s always the players who are suspended or fined. Including the recent Joel Embiid incident.

“I feel like the NBA goes out of its way to protect the fans and protect the media, but not protect the players. Why is Marcus Hayes not suspended… Why is he not fined… And this is not his first trip down this lane… Someone who personally has a vendetta against Joel Embiid,” he highlighted.

Barnes further mentioned this has been Hayes’ way of bringing attention to him. Because he is not good at what he does. The 2017 NBA champ, however, is ready to tolerate all the criticism against the players based on the game. But nothing that disrespects them and their families.

“And I’ll say this, thankfully, it was just a push, but who’s who, who knows what the next time? What’s going to happen next time when something like this happens? So I feel like something needs to be done,” saying this, Barnes brought in Van Lathan for his opinion on the entire issue.

Lathan had his complete support and sympathy for Embiid, and he even called out such journalists who’d cross a line to the extent of disrespecting someone’s deceased brother. To close down on the chain of thoughts, Matt Barnes pointed out the need for a deeper conversation about lines and boundaries with athletes.

“In sports media, it has kind of shifted over the last handful of years. But Marcus Hayes, I mean, you have a track record of bullsh*t. This was another bullsh*t move you pulled. Hopefully, it stops here. Hopefully, you’re not running to do no kind of lawsuit or any kind of funny business,” Matt said. He re-emphasized the need for the league to protect its players—“the asset.” As he rightfully put it, there’d be no league without the players. Having said that about the media, there was yet another aspect of the game that he had to address.

It’s not just the media that Barnes has on his radar for disrespecting athletes

During his podcast with Lathan, Matt Barnes highlighted how not just the media but the fans have started to cross boundaries with athletes that they never should. The ex-NBA star highlighted how fans think they can say whatever and get in people’s faces. Just because athletes make money they are not supposed to react or have feelings. “I think the NBA needs to do a better job… They do a great job in a lot of other areas… This is one area that they’re struggling in. They protect everybody but the product,” Matt said.

A fan insulting Jason Kelce’s brother is the most recent instance of what Barnes is talking about. And the former NBA star had raised his voice in this matter as well. Most NFL fans would have seen the video where Jason was seen smashing down a fan’s phone after the said fan hurled homophobic insults at his brother, Travis Kelce, and Taylor Swift. And there was no way that Barnes was not raising his voice against the wrong. “Y’all waaaaay too comfortable disrespecting athletes,” he wrote on X.

When Daily Mail spoke to sources close to Travis and Taylor, they said the couple was really shocked by Jason’s reaction. And can you blame them? Jason is one of the NFL’s most easygoing guys. He’s the last person you’d expect to snap at a fan. But as explained by the source further, “Jason will never stand for anyone insulting his family. And he views Taylor as family now.”

It’s clear that the common factor between Kelce and Embiid losing cool is disrespect towards their family. And this is exactly the kind of thing Matt Barnes is in no mood to support. Whether it be the media or fans. And thus his support for both the stars.