Basketball's veteran bad-boy Matt Barnes announced his retirement from the NBA via social media on Monday, December 11.
"Had a cool 15yr run!! Traveled the world met alota cool people, some will be brothers for the rest of my life! BUT NOW.... You telling me I can dress like this for business meetings & make more money off the court than I made ON?? & spend more time with my kids??!! Ha... MEEEEE the one that wasn't suppose to be s--- & ended up making it!! Let's Do it! Love me or HATE ME, I DID IT MY WAY!," Barnes wrote in a post he shared on Instagram.
At age 37, Barnes walks away from the game as a UCLA standout who won an NBA Finals Championship as a late addition to the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors, in his 14th and final complete season. Barnes played on nine teams throughout his career and averaged 8.2 points per game and 4.6 rebounds as an enforcer and emotional sparkplug. Much of his relevance in the press had more to do with the name he made for himself as a result of his troubles off of the court than it did his contributions on the court.
Nevertheless, with a legit professional career, a chippy Kobe Bryant grudge match on his highlight reel, and an epic vendetta against Derek Fisher all behind him, Barnes apparently has bigger plans for his future. He's reportedly been getting busy with the establishment of a foundation and scholarship for cancer survivors, and a hashtag reading #BillionaireBy50 gives reason to believe that the California native also has some promising business ventures lined up.
Congratulations Matt Barnes.
Source: Instagram
