Former NBA player Matt Barnes put his hands on student announcer Jake Lancer during Barnes’ son’s high school basketball game.
The Harvard-Westlake Wolverines and Crespi Carmelite Celts high school basketball teams played against each other in the matchup, and Barnes’ son plays for Crespi, which is coached by former NBA guard Derek Fisher.
After Barnes’ son was assessed a technical foul, he appeared to be yelling at the officials on the floor before eventually making his way over to the student announcer.
Student told Matt Barnes to “shut up”.
Matt wanted all the smoke! 💨 #allthesmoke #mattbarnes pic.twitter.com/mQX4o2jabb— Stopmotionsports (@Stopmotionsport) February 3, 2024
While it was stated on social media that Lancer had told Barnes to “shut up,” multiple videos from the broadcast – both before and after the altercation – do not display Lancer saying that towards Barnes.
This is blatant disinformation. Jake Lancer is one of the most professional people I’ve ever worked with in broadcast or journalism. He did not say “shut up.” Here are videos of what he said immediately before and after the altercation. @Tarek_Fattal @latsondheimer https://t.co/QXwlfP0cOU pic.twitter.com/OUSedsNEEX
— Julian Andreone (@JulianAndreone) February 3, 2024
“Matt Barnes kinda came up to and just put his hands on me actually,” Lancer said in the second video. “So, I mean I’m all good. But, it’s kind of, I don’t know.”
Barnes was clearly upset by the call against his son, something that might have affected how he approached the student announcer.
Jack Pollon, a freelance writer who covers high school basketball, obtained some quotes from Lancer on what happened during the altercation.
HW student broadcaster Jake Lancer
This guy was on the court mid-game multiple times screaming ridiculous stuff at the refs and everyone, including myself was looking at him, we made eye contact and that was enough for him to come up to me and grip my shoulder with his hand.
— Jack Pollon (@pollonpreps) February 3, 2024
According to Lancer, Barnes threatened to “slap the s—” out of him during the game.
HW student broadcaster Jake Lancer, part two
He said “what do you think your looking at” and I said “you’re screaming ‘you’re a (term for a female private part)’ to the refs mid game while im trying to announce, don’t touch me” and then he said “I’ll slap the shit out of you”
— Jack Pollon (@pollonpreps) February 3, 2024
It’s possible that Barnes overheard something that he thought Lancer said, which surely would have affected how the former NBA champion was feeling.
Barnes responded to the entire situation on social media, appearing to refer to Lancer by saying that the student announcer said some “slick s—” during the game.
Shut ur ass up. I was talking to the ref not you or that kid that decided to say some slick shit. Don’t let that privileged HW shit go to your head. Idgaf who your son is
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) February 3, 2024
It’s a troubling scenario all around and hopefully something that won’t happen again with Barnes in attendance at a game.
A former second-round pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Barnes had a lengthy NBA career playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.
He won a title with the Warriors in his final NBA season – the 2016-17 campaign.
It will be interesting to see if Barnes faces any repercussions from the incident.
