Matt Barnes Net Worth

What Is Matt Barnes' Net Worth?

Matt Barnes is an American professional basketball player who has a net worth of $13 million. Matt Barnes is a former NBA forward known for his tough, no-nonsense playing style, defensive grit, and outspoken personality. Over a 14-season professional career from 2004 to 2017, he played for nine different teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Los Angeles Lakers. Originally drafted 46th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2002, Barnes didn't immediately find his footing in the league but eventually carved out a role as a reliable, high-energy contributor. He averaged 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game over 929 regular-season appearances. He ended his playing career on a high note, winning an NBA championship with the Warriors in 2017.

Since retiring, Barnes has successfully transitioned into sports media. He co-hosts the popular podcast "All The Smoke" with fellow former NBA player Stephen Jackson. Launched in 2019, the podcast features candid interviews with athletes, entertainers, and cultural figures, often touching on personal struggles, social justice, and behind-the-scenes moments from professional sports. Its raw, unfiltered style and high-profile guest list have made it one of the most popular sports podcasts in the country.

In addition to All The Smoke, Barnes works as a basketball analyst for networks like ESPN and NBC Sports California, offering insights and commentary on the NBA. His post-playing career has kept him in the spotlight, and he's earned respect for his willingness to speak openly about issues both on and off the court.

Off the court, Barnes might be a familiar name to people who don't even watch professional basketball thanks to his relationship with Gloria Govan, who was a cast member on the "Basketball Wives" franchise of reality television. The former couple has two children, a set of twins. His younger brother is also a professional athlete, but he plays football as opposed to basketball.

Career Earnings

Matt Barnes earned approximately $35.6 million over the course of his 14-season NBA career. His earnings reflected a steady progression from short-term minimum contracts to more lucrative multi-year deals as he solidified his role as a dependable two-way player.

Early Career (2004–2006)

Barnes began with modest salaries. His early contracts included a $131,593 deal with the New York Knicks and a $552,269 salary with the Philadelphia 76ers. These were typical of fringe rotation players at the time.

Golden State Warriors (2006–2008)

Barnes signed a one-year deal worth $771,331 with the Warriors, where he earned a larger role and reputation as a gritty defender. The following season, he signed a $3 million contract, marking a significant salary increase.

Phoenix Suns & Orlando Magic (2008–2010)

He earned $926,678 with the Phoenix Suns and then $1.6 million with the Orlando Magic, continuing to build his career as a key bench contributor and spot starter.

Los Angeles Lakers (2010–2012)

During his time with the Lakers, Barnes earned $1.765 million in the first year and $1.906 million in the second, playing valuable minutes alongside Kobe Bryant on a veteran-heavy roster.

Los Angeles Clippers (2012–2015)

Barnes signed one of his most substantial contracts with the Clippers—a three-year deal worth $10.2 million. His annual earnings during that stretch were $3.25 million, $3.396 million, and $3.542 million.

Memphis Grizzlies (2015–2016)

He continued at a similar pay level, earning $3.542 million in a one-year stint with Memphis.

Sacramento Kings (2016–2017)

Barnes signed the most lucrative contract of his career with Sacramento: a two-year, $12.5 million deal that included a player option. He earned approximately $6.25 million during the 2016–2017 season before being waived.

Golden State Warriors (2017)

He returned to Golden State late in the 2016–17 season and earned $383,351 in his final NBA stint, which ended with him winning his first and only NBA championship.

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Early Life

Matt Barnes was born on March 9, 1980, in Santa Clara, California. He is the son of an African-American father and a white mother. He attended Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks, where he played varsity basketball and football. For both sports, Barnes earned All-American, All-State, All-City, and All-League honors. After graduating, he attended UCLA, where he played four seasons of college basketball.

NBA Career

In the 2002 NBA draft, Barnes was selected in the second round by the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies then traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers, which assigned him to the Fayetteville Patriots of the NBA D-League. After playing a season with the Patriots, Matt signed with the Long Beach Jam of the ABA for that team's inaugural season in 2003. Playing with Dennis Rodman, Barnes and the team went 24-7, winning the ABA Championship. Due to his success, he was able to get a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers for the second half of the season.

Matt signed with the Sacramento Kings in October of 2004; during his debut, he scored 17 points and nine rebounds. Halfway through the season, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. However, his knee tendinitis prevented him from playing, and he was ultimately given an injury release. Following this, Barnes signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks. Despite an impressive preseason, he was waived after just six games. The Philadelphia 76ers then claimed him for a second stint with the team.

Golden State Warriors

In October 2006, Barnes signed with the Golden State Warriors. Due to forward Mike Dunleavy Jr.'s time on the bench, coach Don Nelson gave Matt more time to play. In December, he scored seven three-point field goals, tying the franchise record for the Warriors. Before this, Barnes had only made ten three-pointers in his career. However, after signing with the Warriors, his performance dramatically improved. In the 2006-2007 season alone, Matt scored 106 three-pointers. In the postseason playoffs, he helped the team take down the #1 seed Mavericks.

Barnes returned to the Warriors in the summer of 2007 under a one-year contract. For the subsequent season, he served as a team captain alongside Stephen Jackson and Baron Davis.

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Suns, Magic, and Lakers

Barnes signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Suns in 2008. He ran into some trouble that season when he got into a scuffle with the Houston Rockets' Rafer Alston, resulting in a two-game suspension. The next year, Matt signed a two-year deal with the Orlando Magic, with the ability to opt out for the second year. He did just that following the team's elimination from the 2010 NBA Playoffs. In July 2010, Barnes signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Los Angeles Clippers and Professional Misconduct

In 2012, Barnes signed again with the Los Angeles Clippers. The following year, he was named Defensive Player of the Year for the team.

Despite his successes on the court, Matt's chronic misbehavior kept coming back to bite him throughout his time with the Clippers. During the 2012 season, he was suspended for one game after he confessed to resisting, delaying, or obstructing a police officer. In November 2013, he was fined $25,000 for not leaving the court after he was ejected from a game for using his Twitter account. During the 2014-2015 season, he was fined a number of times, including for kicking a water bottle and swearing, using inappropriate language toward a fan, and making remarks to James Harden's mother during a playoff game.

Memphis Grizzlies

Only a month after he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 2015, Barnes was traded again to the Memphis Grizzlies, the team that first drafted him in 2002. However, in December, he was suspended for two games for a physical altercation he got into with New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher. Later, the NBA fined him $35,000 for publicly defending his violence against Fisher.

Following his misconduct, Matt returned to successful playing. In February 2016, he scored a season-high 25 points in a 128-119 victory over the Lakers. The next month, he recorded his first career triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Return to the Warriors

After once again signing with the Sacramento Kings in 2016, Barnes was waived. He subsequently returned to the Golden State Warriors, becoming the replacement forward for the injured Kevin Durant. Matt had his greatest career success with the Warriors in 2017 when he helped the team win the NBA Championship against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was his first championship ring in 14 seasons in the NBA. At the end of the playoffs, the Warriors had a 16-1 record, the best postseason winning percentage in the history of the league. Matt announced his retirement in December 2017.

Personal Life

Matt was previously married to television personality Gloria Govan. Together, they had twin boys. In 2010, Barnes was arrested on account of domestic violence against Govan. The couple split in 2014.

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