Back in 2010, Golden State Warriors star Matt Barnes had two options–play with Kobe Bryant, or join forces with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. We all know how that played out. Barnes chose the Lakers, helping them reach the playoffs in his two seasons there. But despite a solid 15-year career and playing for seven more seasons, Barnes never had the chance to play alongside King James. Now, 12 years after that decision, he’s hinting at a change of heart.

The Paparazzi Papi YouTube channel recently shared a video where Matt Barnes opened up about his journey in the NBA. When asked, “If you could come back to any team, what team would you come back to?” He took a moment before responding, “I’d probably say the Lakers, man.” This response certainly turned heads, especially given his history and the current Lakers roster.

So, what’s the driving force behind his desire to return? Well, it’s none other than LeBron James himself. Barnes expressed his admiration in the interview, stating, “I would always, I never got a chance to play with Bron. If I could come back and put a Laker jersey on, I would be doubling one.”

However, despite his love for the Lakers, it wasn’t his favorite destination a few months ago. In a previous episode of The Point Forward podcast, Barnes ranked the Lakers third among his favorite teams he had played for. “I think there’s like three or four teams that stand out,” he said. “But probably my favorite stops for all different reasons were Golden State both times…the Clippers Lob City team…and then the Lakers.”

With a career that included playing alongside legends like Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, and Shaquille O’Neal, Barnes has certainly seen it all. So, why did he pass up on teaming up with LeBron back in the day?

Why did Matt Barnes reject LeBron James in 2010?

Earlier this year at the Uninterrupted Film Festival, Matt Barnes shared a fascinating story about his decision to join the Lakers instead of the Miami Heat superteam. He recalled, “So LeBron and Bosh are headed there, and I’m talking to Pat Riley and D-Wade. And they’re painting this picture of what this group would be like and come join it.” Certainly a tempting offer, considering the Big-3 was just starting to make waves in Miami. But then, something changed.

Barnes remembered getting a call from an unknown number just as his stint with the Orlando Magic was ending in 2010. To his surprise, it was Kobe Bryant on the other end. That call would change everything. “We talked about that time I went head-to-head with him,” Barnes recalled, referencing their infamous on-court scuffle. Kobe, known for his fierce competitiveness, appreciated Barnes for not backing down.

Then Bryant made an unexpected offer. “Do you want to be a Laker?” Kobe asked. For Barnes, who grew up watching Magic Johnson in California, the answer was a resounding “Hell, yeah.”

Within days, Barnes was wearing the purple and gold. Over his two seasons with the Lakers, mostly coming off the bench, he averaged 7.3 points, with a 32.7% 3-point shooting rate, and 45.9% overall FG percentage. Not to mention, he also grabbed 4.9 rebounds and dished out 1.7 assists per game. Barnes’ friendship with Bryant grew strong, too, often hanging out and even partying with the 5x NBA champion.

Ultimately, it wasn’t that Barnes rejected LeBron—he simply couldn’t pass up the chance to play alongside Kobe and live out a childhood dream.