National Basketball Association

Matt Barnes on facing Sacramento Kings: 'I'm trying to kill them'

Published Mar. 24, 2017 7:44 a.m. ET

Kerouac Smith

Matt Barnes is back for a second stint with the Golden State Warriors, but he's still got a little unfinished business with the Sacramento Kings.

Barnes was free to rejoin the Warriors because he was released by the Kings as part of the DeMarcus Cousins trade in February.

Being dumped by his hometown team didn't sit well with the former Del Campo High School star.

“I’m trying to kill them. Plain and simple. Things didn’t go well there,” he told reporters after Thursday's practice ahead of Friday night's showdown between the two northern California teams.

The hometown nostalgia is understandable, but you'd think Barnes might be more excited about having a legitimate shot at winning a title just down the road in Oakland.