(Via ESPN.com)
There is no love lost between Matt Barnes and the Sacramento Kings. Ahead of Friday night’s clash against his former team, Barnes did not mince words when describing his mindset heading into the game.
“I’m trying to kill them,” Barnes told reporters Thursday. “Plain and simple. Things didn’t go well there, so we’re trying to kill ’em. Beat them by 50.”
Barnes was released by the Kings following the trade of Demarcus Cousins to the Pelicans, less than a full season into his stint in Sacramento. Barnes seems to be holding onto hard feelings with the way he was let go.
“It was frustrating because being back home and really taking pride in trying to put that team back on the map, and then just in a day’s time you’re no longer a part of the organization,” Barnes told the Sacramento Bee. “It was kind of a rude awakening.”
Barnes has previously criticized the Kings, saying they treated Cousins unfairly.
After signing Barnes shortly after his release in the wake of Kevin Durant’s knee injury, the forward has averaged 5.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in 11 games with the Warriors. Barnes’ play has been inconsistent, as it was with the Kings, but based on his rhetoric, it would seem that Barnes’ is planning on making a statement Friday night.
“They’re the enemy now.”