Matt Barnes can’t wait to play the Clippers this season because he wants to prove Doc Rivers wrong.
Barnes didn’t hold back, saying that Rivers “never wanted” Barnes and “couldn’t wait” to get rid of him in an interview with NBA.com’s Shaun Powell.
Barnes now plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, having been dealt early in the offseason. According to him, that’s no coincidence.
“Doc never wanted me,” Barnes said. “He couldn’t wait to get rid of me. Doc and I never saw eye to eye. He tried to get me out of there the second he got there, so it wasn’t too surprising to me what happened when things went south.”
Barnes goes on to say that he “can’t wait” to play against Rivers. Their first meeting of the season is November 9. He also thinks the Clippers will miss his intangibles.
These are certainly strong words from Barnes, though it’s not the worst thing he’s said or done to an NBA coach since the end of last season.
