Los Angeles Clippers' Head Coach Doc Rivers Squashes Matt Barnes Beef, He's A "Good Guy"
After being involved in a physical altercation with New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher over his ex-wife Gloria Govan, Matt Barnes is bound to be portrayed aggressive and in a negative light by the media. In a recent interview with NBA.com, it was stated that LA Clippers head coach Doc Rivers "never wanted" Barnes and "couldn't wait to get rid" of him.
When Barnes read the interview, he took to Instagram to express his thoughts on the media, claiming they have an agenda regarding him, as his words on Doc were "twisted." Here's what his Instagram caption read,
I guess I shouldn't be surprised anymore when my interviews or events in my life are taken & twisted up to make me look like an asshole! So this recent article about me "hating Doc Rivers" is no different... I did say "Doc & I never saw eye to eye",which was the truth & I also said "he couldn't wait to get me outa there" which was the truth.. But I also said theres "No Hard Feelings" this is a BUSINESS & Doc did wat he felt was necessary to better his team! Not one time did I say "I hate Doc or the Clippers organization"..It's actually the opposite!! I have nothing but gratitude & appreciation for the franchise that I had a "small part" in help turning around! I did say "I can't wait to play the Clippers & Doc Rivers" because I am a competitor & even tho I love my former clip teammates, when that ball goes up Nov 9th for that next 48mins we are enemies!! It's just funny how EVERYTHING that comes out about me is half the truth or $h!t none of the truth..! The few people in the media that try & paint this negative picture of me you are doing a good job, "hats off to you" but my friends family & teammates know me & the truth & I guess that'll have to do! "Just like I drove 95miles from Santa Barbra to LA" lol smh
Now, Doc Rivers was recently confronted by TMZ Sports and when he was asked about whether or not the rumors regarding beef between him and Matt Barnes was true, he responded with, "He's a good guy."
Clearly, the beef is media related, as opposed to coach-player related. Now, the irony in the whole situation is the fact that Barnes arguably had his best professional season with the Los Angeles Clippers last season before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. (Barnes even admitted that he wanted to end his career with the Clippers).
As reported by Complex Magazine, Barnes played a very important role with the Clippers as they beat the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs during last postseason. Obviously the trade to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Lance Stephenson and Paul Pierce (who used to play for Rivers in Boston with the Celtics) was strictly basketball related, and not coach-player beef related.