Top 98 Quotes & Sayings by Matt Barnes
Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American athlete Matt Barnes.
Last updated on April 15, 2025.
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.
It comes with experience and learning and knowing the game. It's not necessarily about sticking your chest out and saying, 'I'm tough.'
Being traded and moving teams, it's difficult, especially when you have families.
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.
I like being the hated one.
If I had to say how much I've paid in fines over my career, I'm sure it's over $500,000, going toward $1 million.
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.
I am very excited about playing for Mr. Ballmer.
Running in transition and scoring in transition, prevents you from setting your defense up on the other side.
Running hard I can get some easy points, and I'm definitely going to keep doing that.
Until you get that championship, nobody's good enough.
I was one of those guys who wasn't supposed to make it in this league.
It's obviously a blessing to be able to play on Christmas Night, the one big night everyone watches.
Sometimes I act off emotion, but I also try to speak my mind. Take it or leave it, really.
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.
We can't beat any team by ourselves.
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'll knock down the open jumper when it's there, but I want to get after it on the defensive end.
I always wanted to do NBA Cares but they didn't want me to represent the league. I just did Matt Cares instead. I went to Africa by myself to do camps and clinics.
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 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.
I mean, don't get me wrong, being ref is a very tough job - managing 10 of the best athletes in the world. At the same time, I think there is way too much ego from their standpoint.
Every one of us has the ability to raise awareness, volunteer, educate our friends and family, and give back to our communities.
Co-parenting is probably the toughest situation that I've had to deal with because my ex and I really just don't get along. So, at the end of the day, I would tell any parents listening that once you're separated from your significant other - the father of your children, the mother of your children - the most important thing is the kids' happiness.
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.
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.
I love to be physical.
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'm an aggressive player. I always have been.
Some guys didn't have fathers. Some guys grew up with great dads but the weight of fatherhood shifts onto their shoulders because they make millions now. Some guys are away from their kids or divorced. I'm letting them all know they aren't alone when it comes to fatherhood issues and to encourage them to make time for their kids.
It starts on the defensive end, but it's also just the ball movement and holding everyone accountable.
I think there are things you can do to toughen yourself up.
You can't take a night off in the NBA.
Having kids, any time you can help kids, it's something that's close to my heart.
I look at my team as my family and I will do anything for my family.
The NBA never wanted to use me to market their work even though I have a huge following and lots of fans. I was the bad guy to them.
To win a championship, you need to win on the road.
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've had to fight every year. That's kept me hungry.
I've been playing in L.A. for a long time through college and pros, just to be ready. It's different out here.
When I feel something isn't right, I'm going to speak my mind and stand even if it's by myself.
Refs need to get over themselves.
The league feels like it's their job to protect the referees more than the players.
You don't have to be a professional athlete to be heard - the most powerful tool you have is your voice.
I just play hard.
I think what I came from and what I saw molded me into a certain person. Nothing was ever wrapped or a silver spoon, so I don't think I would know how to live and I don't think I'd want to live if it wasn't a grind.
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 was a good shooter in college, but it's a different level here in the NBA and I'm working on getting better.
Once I stopped playing I didn't have the urge or drive to play again.
You only get one mom.
We call media out that hasn't played and have crazy opinions.
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.
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.
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.
I play basketball hard-nosed and if you're not on my team, during that 48 minutes we're enemies.
This social media era is giving us a more in-depth look at our favorite people, and it's all aspects, from music to movies to television to sports. I think it has been somewhat of a distraction at times, but also a huge benefit.
You're never prepared to lose anybody in your family.
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.
In order to win a championship, you've got to be consistent.
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.
Related Authors
Allen Iverson Quotes
American
Athlete
Andy Murray Quotes
Scottish
Athlete
CM Punk Quotes
American
Athlete
Conor McGregor Quotes
Irish
Athlete
Georges St-Pierre Quotes
Canadian
Athlete
Jack LaLanne Quotes
American
Athlete
Jillian Michaels Quotes
American
Athlete
Jon Jones Quotes
American
Athlete
Kenny Smith Quotes
American
Athlete
Kevin Durant Quotes
American
Athlete
Rafael Nadal Quotes
Spanish
Athlete
Ronda Rousey Quotes
American
Athlete
Scottie Pippen Quotes
American
Athlete
Shaquille O'Neal Quotes
American
Athlete
Stephen Curry Quotes
American
Athlete
Usain Bolt Quotes
Jamaican
Athlete