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We are in the 125th day of the NBA lockout as the reality starts to set in for many players realizing that real games are starting to be missed. It was announced last Friday that the NBA would be canceling games through November and would not be playing a full 82-game season. The most notable issue between the players and owners continues to be the division of basketball-related income (BRI). Matt Barnes initially looked at the NBA lockout as a blessing in disguise while he heeled from a knee injury, but at this point he wants the season back. Barnes has been in the news lately for another issue that has nothing to do with his performance on the court and everything to do with the rumors surrounding Eva Longoria. The Lakers guard set the record straight on his rumored romance with the Desperate Housewives star. Matt Barnes joined 95.7 The Game in San Francisco with The Rise Guys to discuss whether he thinks the NBA lockout will end anytime soon, how long it would realistically take for NBA teams to get ready if the lockout were to end tomorrow, looking at alternative options at this point to play in Europe, and the rumors surrounding his romantic relationship with Eva Longoria.
Do you ever think we will have a regular season any time soon?
“Man I hope so. I hope so. It’s starting to be that time now where everyone is itching. We are supposed to be playing now. Earlier in the summer we were supposed to be on vacation and now the ball is supposed to be tipped up. I think everyone is starting to itch a little bit, so I hope so.”
Let’s say you had a settlement soon. How long would it realistically take for you and the rest of the players and the teams to get to the point where you could start playing real games?
“I think it would be an enforced issue. I think hopefully that the NBA players would be responsible enough to stay ready and be ready. There’s no simulation for a real practice or a real game, so it would be pretty sloppy I’d probably say the first month. I think everyone could catch their stride by December.”
Did you consider other options? Some players have certainly considered Europe and other things. Are you thinking about what else you might do if this doesn’t play out?
“Not necessarily right away for the simple fact that I was coming off that knee injury and we had a lot of complications at the end of the year. I knew I was going to need a little more time to get ready, so the lockout has been a blessing in disguise for me. Now that I am ready to go… I am ready to go. The extra time definitely helped me out this year.”
Matt I apologize, but I gotta ask you because you are in the news for reasons that I am sure annoy you. Matt Barnes dating Eva Longoria? She says no. You have been linked in the tabloids and the internet to Eva Longoria. Any comments on that?
“Eva and I are friends. We are working together. She has an amazing cancer foundation as well, so we are working together and setting up an event for 2012. I know everyone likes to read and everything and hope or talk bad about situations, but Eva and I are just friends.”
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