Every now and then, the older brother has to take a step back and look up to his younger brother for what he’s accomplished.
Clippers forward Matt Barnes was in that position on Sunday night. Barnes has spent nine seasons in the NBA and has made the playoffs four times. However, he’s yet to win a championship.
His younger brother Jason did just that on Sunday. The younger Barnes is a wide receiver for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL. The Argos defeated the Calgary Stampeders, 35-22, in the 100th edition of the Grey Cup. Having a championship in the family had Matt beyond excited.
He tweeted last night: "Congrats to my lil bro @JayBarnes81 & the rest of the #Argos for winning the #100thGreyCup. Luv you homez!!#CFLTorontoArgonauts.”
He tried to call his younger brother but didn’t have much time to express his congratulations.
"I talked to him when he was in the locker room for like two minutes,” Barnes said. "It was too loud and he was getting champagne poured on him so I just said ‘Call me tomorrow.’”
Jason had three catches for 82 yards, including a 62-yard reception in the Grey Cup win.
The younger Barnes played his college ball at Sacramento State. He just wrapped up his fourth season in the CFL.
Matt was also a talented football player growing up. He led the nation with 28 touchdown receptions as a senior at Del Campo High School in Sacramento in 1997. He had 58 catches for 1,112 yards, earning All-American, All-State and All-CIF honors.
"Football is our first sport growing up," Matt said. "I chose to go with basketball but he’s doing a good job over in the CFL."
After struggling early on in his NBA career and playing for four different teams over his first three NBA seasons, Barnes contemplated giving the NFL a try in 2006. He was even contacted by a number of NFL teams that were willing to give him a tryout.
But at 26, Barnes caught on with the Warriors and has been a solid contributor to Golden State, Phoenix, Orlando, the Lakers and now the Clippers and said goodbye to any thoughts he had of having an NFL career.
