The cops just busted one of the NBA’s most unapologetic tough guys in Los Angeles.
Manhattan Beach police arrested Matt Barnes, a free agent forward who spent the last two seasons with the
Los Angeles Lakers, for a traffic violation and for resisting arrest on Monday night.
CBS Los Angeles reports that Barnes’ bail was set for $51,000 after Barnes was “uncooperative” and “allegedly threatened” a police officer.
Manhattan Beach police Lt. Steve Tobias said Barnes was arrested late Monday as he was walking on a busy thoroughfare in the city about 20 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bail was set at $51,000.
Tobias said Barnes wasn’t cooperative when he was stopped by police and was going to be booked for allegedly threatening the officer, which is a felony.
Authorities said the warrant was for driving on a suspended license.
Barnes, 32, averaged 7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.9 minutes per game last season.
Known for picking fights and talking trash on the court, Barnes was suspended from a California pro-am league during the lockout for allegedly punching an opponent.
During the 2010-11 season, Barnes threw a Dallas Mavericks assistant coach to the ground during an in-game skirmish and early in the 2011-12 season he shoved Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin to the ground, earning a flagrant foul. He was also arrested on a domestic violence charge back in September 2010 but was not charged in the incident.
On July 10, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Lakers “aren’t expected” to re-sign Barnes after the team signed 23-year-old forward Devin Ebanks to a one-year contract.
A 9-year NBA veteran, Barnes’ career has included stops with the Clippers, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic and the Lakers.
