Being an NBA player has plenty of perks, but it’s also one of the most demanding jobs one could even think of.
You’re always on the road, you have to work out almost every day, and you miss a lot of things for not being around your family.
That’s why Matt Barnes decided it was time to walk away from the game he loved and focus on parenting and being there for his children.
Barnes — who’s now become a prominent member of the new wave of NBA media — recently opened up on how parenting has changed his life and made him make the decision to retire from the NBA.
“It was the reason why I retired… Fatherhood is the best job in the world” ❤️@Matt_Barnes22 on his transition from Player to Player-Dad#RunItBack with @ShamsCharania @MichelleDBeadle @ChandlerParsons & @bansky pic.twitter.com/GipQOW0BVf
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) June 7, 2023
Barnes was never an All-Star-caliber player, but he was always a sought-after guy because of his defense on the wing and ability to knock down three-pointers.
He didn’t get a lot of run in his final couple of years in the league — veterans rarely do — but he was still a respected voice within the locker room and a guy who could’ve extended his career for at least another season.
Instead, he’s now coaching his son’s AAU team, and has served as an analyst and color commentator, not to mention his “All The Smoke” podcast with Stephen Jackson, one of the most popular among NBA circles nowadays.
Being an NBA player is fun and there’s plenty of money and luxury involved.
But even NBA players are humans first and foremost, and family should always be the No. 1 priority, even for them.
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