Ex-Bruin congratulates Jamie Dixon on landing UCLA job
Does Matt Barnes know something we don’t?
Barnes, who played at UCLA from 1999-2002, sent a tweet on Wednesday evening congratulating Jamie Dixon on becoming UCLA’s next head basketball coach.
Congrats to the Newest @UCLAMBB coach Jamie Dixon!! Good luck & look forward to meeting you #Bruins
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) April 4, 2019
Barnes’ tweet comes on a day when Dixon was reported to be in buyout negotiations to leave TCU for UCLA. Nothing has since been reported as finalized, so either Barnes knows something or is jumping the gun in reacting to previous reports.
Barnes’ tweet is also a sign of an olive branch from a former player to the potential new coach at a time when there is some disconnect between the program’s alumni and the hiring process. Many former players were vocal in supporting their ex-teammate Earl Watson for the job. Watson played at UCLA from 1998-2001 and was a respected four-year guard who later went on to enjoy a lengthy NBA career. He even was the head coach of the Phoenix Suns for parts of three seasons until being fired three games into last season. Watson would probably be best served taking another college coaching job and showing what he can do so he can be well-positioned for the next time the UCLA job comes available, which could be sooner than some would think.
