When I feel something isn't right, I'm going to speak my mind and stand even if it's by myself.
— Matt Barnes
If you take the chance to get to know me off the court, you'll see that I'm not the bad guy that everybody wants me to be on the court.
Once I stopped playing I didn't have the urge or drive to play again.
If I don't start, I'd like to try to win Sixth Man of the Year. And whenever I'm on the court, I'm just going to give it my all.
Running hard I can get some easy points, and I'm definitely going to keep doing that.
You can't take a night off in the NBA.
My kids' happiness kind of outweighs everything. Just seeing the smiles on their faces and the anticipation leading up to Christmas is what I love now, having kids of my own.
Until you get that championship, nobody's good enough.
I love to be physical.
Early in my career I had to be a goon to survive. I did everything I had to do and probably some things I shouldn't have.
I still miss my mom every day, but when I see the smiles on the faces of the people that I help I know I am honoring her legacy.
Having kids, any time you can help kids, it's something that's close to my heart.
I think there are things you can do to toughen yourself up.
I like being the hated one.
You have to stay locked in. You're so locked in on guarding your guy you figure when the ball goes up the bigs are going to get it. But the possessions not over until you get the rebound.
I mean, this is basketball, you have a lot of different teammates and you move around a lot, to find true friends is something special.
I am very excited about playing for Mr. Ballmer.
I wear my heart on my sleeve.
I play basketball hard-nosed and if you're not on my team, during that 48 minutes we're enemies.
I've had to fight every year. That's kept me hungry.
Some guys have one good year and fade away. I've worked too hard to get here and it's took me too long to just fade away.
I'll knock down the open jumper when it's there, but I want to get after it on the defensive end.
In the NBA you better come to play every night, where in the NBDL the talent level just isn't there and maybe you have guys taking a night off.
I've been playing in L.A. for a long time through college and pros, just to be ready. It's different out here.
To win a championship, you need to win on the road.
I was playing tackle football in the street at five years old. Always being physical. Always being tough, just like a man's man. It was just always about being tough.
You don't have to be a professional athlete to be heard - the most powerful tool you have is your voice.
My mom was my rock, my confidant and my best friend. She was an elementary school teacher who worked with students with disabilities and she lived every day giving back to her family and her community.
Ever since I lost my mom, I'm really just trying to give back. At first, we were doing screenings and paying for surgeries, but now I've been fortunate enough to team with UCLA, and we're creating a scholarship program for kids who beat cancer.
It comes with experience and learning and knowing the game. It's not necessarily about sticking your chest out and saying, 'I'm tough.'
It starts on the defensive end, but it's also just the ball movement and holding everyone accountable.
I'm an aggressive player. I always have been.
You're never prepared to lose anybody in your family.
I was one of those guys who wasn't supposed to make it in this league.
Sometimes I act off emotion, but I also try to speak my mind. Take it or leave it, really.
We call media out that hasn't played and have crazy opinions.
Even though the city of Memphis and this organization has welcomed me with open arms, I play every game like it's my last. Play as hard as I possibly can. Been no different my whole career.
Running in transition and scoring in transition, prevents you from setting your defense up on the other side.
I was a good shooter in college, but it's a different level here in the NBA and I'm working on getting better.
It's obviously a blessing to be able to play on Christmas Night, the one big night everyone watches.
When you're in one of the biggest media markets and you have a good team and you're predicted to do well, if you struggle at any point, they're going to come after you. Even when you're playing well, you're not winning by enough.
I just think, obviously as players, we're held to a higher standard. I've had to watch myself on that, but I think if we're held to higher standards, the owners should be held to even higher standards.
I grew up in the '80s in an era that was tough. The Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason. It wasn't dirty. It was just men playing basketball.
Every one of us has the ability to raise awareness, volunteer, educate our friends and family, and give back to our communities.
I started Athletes vs Cancer as a way to honor my mother, but now giving back has become a part of who I am, and more importantly, this is a key value I hope to pass on to my own sons.
I look at my team as my family and I will do anything for my family.
In order to win a championship, you've got to be consistent.
We can't beat any team by ourselves.
You only get one mom.
Being traded and moving teams, it's difficult, especially when you have families.
