Matt Barnes recently shared a story on “The Hangout” that caught attention.
A few weeks ago, while spending time in Mexico, he received a call from someone in the NBA front office.
Barnes didn’t name the official — a woman, by his account — but he explained the reason for the call: within the league, marijuana use among young players has reached disproportionate levels — a pressing issue, as Barnes made clear.
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NBA’s pot advisor
If anyone is fit to speak on the subject, it’s Barnes. A weed enthusiast who reportedly first tried it at 14 and has used it religiously ever since, the California native is one of the first names that comes to mind when thinking about marijuana in league history.
It’s a reputation the NBA front office is well aware of, which is why a female official recently called him directly for his expertise and guidance.
“She called me. She’s like, ‘Matt, I need your help.'”
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“All right. What’s up?
“‘I need you to talk to these young players about smoking weed.’ ”
“I’m like, ‘What do you mean?'”
“‘They’re coming late, they’re smelling like it and they’re showing up to appearances,'” Barnes recalled the exchange.
Matt moved into the media after retiring from a career that spanned 14 years and has since built a substantial following. Aware of that, the outspoken Matt addressed the issue head-on, posting an almost two-minute video from Mexico shortly after the conversation.
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Freedom and consequences
Recounting the content of the video, Barnes said it was mainly about showing young players that consumption comes with responsibility. Enjoying cannabis is one thing, he explained, but overdoing it is another and as often, the key lies in finding the right balance.
“There has to be some kind of game to you, some kind of sense to you. You’ve got to be professional on and off the court, especially when cannabis is a freedom you have. But don’t misuse it,” Barnes said.
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He also stressed that young players who fall into that trap should step back and reflect. Many, it seems, fail to realize that those before them, like 2002 late second-round pick Barnes himself, didn’t have the same liberties.
After all, marijuana testing has only been abolished in recent years under Commissioner Adam Silver. Misusing that freedom now disregards the long, hard path that paved the way, Barnes warned.
“Guys during my run lost their careers, lost contracts, got suspended. I don’t think these kids understand the history of where they’re at now and their freedom to be able to smoke,” he noted.
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Even more troubling, according to his account, is that if those young NBA guys continue down that path, it could lead to serious consequences, including a return to stricter enforcement, such as routine marijuana testing.
Ultimately, for the 45-year-old host of “All the Smoke,” the current development is troubling and to prevent it from getting worse, he offered valuable advice.
Barnes said young athletes shouldn’t put themselves in a position where their actions could force the league to step in simply because they can’t handle that kind of freedom.
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You can’t show up intoxicated in a professional NBA environment without expecting some consequences sooner or later.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.