National Basketball Association

Barnes opens up on life as a Laker

Published Dec. 5, 2010 2:44 a.m. ET

foxsports

If there were a soundtrack to Matt Barnes career, it would be Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere, Man."

When Barnes signed a two-year deal with the Lakers last summer – one year with an option, naturally – they became his eighth team in eight years, after his professional career started in the D-League when he finished at UCLA.

In addition to his itinerant ways, Barnes has built a reputation as a hard-edged player whom some ascribe to his days as a high school All-American receiver growing up in Sacramento. He went through a spring practice at UCLA, and considered trying out for NFL clubs when his basketball career took off.

On the court, Barnes was not afraid to mix it up with Kobe Bryant on occasion and since he joined the Lakers, Barnes has delivered an elbow to the back of the head of Houston's Chase Budinger, and had tense words with Utah's Earl Watson, his former UCLA teammate.

But Barnes has in many ways been just what the Lakers hoped – a player whose energy, 3-point shooting and slashing to the net would give them a boost off the bench. He is averaging 9.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists as part of the offensive platoon at small forward with Ron Artest.

Last week, Barnes took a few minutes after practice to answer some questions about his journey through the NBA.

Q: With the moving around you've done, what have you learned about real estate?

A: It's a gamble, so most of the time I just rent.

Q: Do you own any places now?

A: Yeah, in Phoenix and Sacramento. It's been bad. You try to get them off your hands if you can, but you can't. You take too much of a hit, so you sit on it. (He now lives in Palos Verdes, Calif. – renting.)

Q: You've described yourself as a football player playing basketball. What do you miss most about football?

A: Just being able to have some kind of contact. You can't do anything here. You can't have contact, you can't show emotion. That's the raw part of football. You show a lot of emotion and it's a very physical game. That's what I miss.

Q: The hitch that you have in your shot ...

A: It's always been there. I tried to correct it one summer, but the fix didn't work.

Q: How long did it take for coaches to leave it alone?

A: My first few years when I wasn't playing, I worked on it a lot to make it a little smoother. It used to be more broken. I have a small hitch now. It's more when I'm tired.

Q: Off the court, what was your first experience that told you playing with the Lakers was different?

A: Man, just going places. Going places now is, not a hassle, but you're definitely more recognized. And me playing in college played a part in that. So definitely the notoriety.

Q: Give me an example.

A: I went to the mall a couple weeks ago to get some T-shirts and it was like a 45-minute picture signing, autograph session. I was trying to get in and out, but Lakers across your chest changes everything.

Q: You've had some good battles with Kobe. What have you learned about him as a teammate that you didn't know playing against him?

A: His hunger. You see it from afar, his hunger to win, to continue to learn. The way he studies, his approach to the game is amazing and I've played with some superstars before. But his approach is amazing.

Q: In a couple months, when St. John's, with your former coach, Steve Lavin, and your former teammate, Rico Hines, on the coaching staff, plays at UCLA, your old school. Who do you got?

A: Oh, man. I've got to go with UCLA. I've got Rico and Coach Lav at St. John's, but I'm a UCLA guy. You've got to go with the Bruins. Hopefully they have a good season.