Golden State Warriors’ Matt Barnes (22) wears a “We Believe” T-shirt before going into the game against the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their NBA second-round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Matt Barnes, a beloved bad boy member of the Warriors’ “We Believe” team who last year won a championship ring with Golden State, admitted Friday he smoked marijuana before just about every game during his 14-year career.
Appearing with other ex-NBA players in a forum on why marijuana usage should be allowed in the NBA, Barnes told Bleacher Report he was at his best when he was high.
“All of my best games, I was medicated,” said Barnes, who retired after playing a supporting role during the Warriors’ title run last season. “It wasn’t ever single game, but (in 14 years), it was a lot.”
Editor’s note: Video contains profanity.
Two other members of the Warriors’ 2006-07 “We Believe” team have also recently revealed marijuana usage during their careers. Al Harrington, a self-described cannabis entrepreneur, was also on the panel but said he never smoked before a game.
While Stephen Jackson admitted using marijuana during his career, he at first scoffed at the idea any player could smoke before a game.
“Nobody can play high, especially in the NBA,” Jackson told TMZ, before relenting. “Some guys can probably do it, but I wasn’t one of them.”
Retired NBA veteran Kenyon Martin guessed that “85 percent” of players during his career smoked weed. Barnes said it’s not just the players in the league who are firing up regularly.
“The GMs, coaches, presidents … it goes deeper than what you think,” Barnes said. “Some of the people cracking whips and suspending us are smoking weed.”
