On Tuesday, the retired NBA player shared a series of Instagram Story clips documenting himself getting a new tattoo from celebrity tattoo artist Steve Butcher. RELATED: Raiders QB David Carr to Honor Kobe Bryant with Arm Sleeve This Season: ‘He Meant So Much to Me’. “To be able to see Kobe post-career, and seeing him smile, seeing him courtside with his daughters, seeing him courtside with his family, seeing him do other things,” Barnes said.
Matt Barnes played two seasons on the Los Angeles Lakers with Kobe Bryant. Matt Barnes Gets Kobe Bryant and Gianna Tattoo Tribute from Famous Artisthttps://t.co/RgVFny2PHy, — TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) August 12, 2020. Is Michigan football close to a national title? The design also includes two roses as well as the words “Mamba 4 Life” inked below the black serpent. It highlights the five days during the 2014 NBA playoffs when the Donald Sterling tapes were released that ultimately got Sterling banned from the NBA. Matt Barnes was brought to tears thinking about Kobe Bryant as he watched The Last Dance seeing similarities between Michael Jordan and Kobe. It's a way to remember both one of the all-time greats and a daughter who was on track for so much more. Despite the fact that the two were foes on the court more than they were friends, Barnes has often spoken of the respect he had for Kobe and the way he played the game. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Earlier this week, a video circulated showing a new angle on one famous Kobe Bryant moment: He was guarding Matt Barnes on the inbound play and as we all … Barnes' new ink is more than just an impressive art piece. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Matt Barnes gets Kobe Bryant and Gianna tattoo tribute. "It's coming along," he tells his followers as he shows the progress. Matt Barnes got a tattoo of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant. Kobe and Barnes became fast friends after the pair played two seasons together for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2010 to 2012. “Kobe would cuss people out, Kobe would get in people’s asses, Kobe would do whatever it took to win to motivate guys. Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more. RELATED: LeBron James Says a 'Day Doesn't Go by When I Don't Think About' Kobe Bryant. The wounds of Kobe's untimely passing are still very much open and festering, and current and former players alike are still trying to accept the fact that he'd gone. Barnes played with Kobe on the Lakers from 2010 to 2012, and he faced off against him plenty of times during his career considering he played for every team in the NBA's Pacific Division during his long, journeyman career. "Still doesn’t seem real.. Today the World Honors you but the Real Ones who’ve always loved you & Gigi honor you everyday... RestEasy," he shared on the day of their public memorial service at the Staples Center. Introducing ... PEOPLE's Products Worth the Hype. His tattoo captures the sweet moment Kobe and Gianna embraced at the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. It really choked me up at the same time, because I’d be like remember when Kobe did that to so and so, or I remember Kobe saying that sort of stuff in practice. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. © Provided by Fansided For the last six months, the tributes to Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his family after he … Barnes got in touch with Steve Butcher, a legendary LA tattoo artist whom Barnes has patronized in the past. The new ink memorializes the late Kobe and his daughter Gianna, who died in a tragic helicopter accident in January. Barnes and Kobe did stay friends after their playing careers ended.

Barnes found a pretty clever and unique way to honor the legacy of Kobe and the memory of Gianna. Matt Barnes is honoring the life of his former teammate, Kobe Bryant, with a new tattoo. Several other NBA stars have also gotten new ink to honor Kobe and Gianna — including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Devin Booker. He later shared a photo of the ink, which features a snake — a reference to Bryant’s “Black Mamba” nickname — and the late athlete’s jersey numbers, 8 and 24. Barnes, 40, later shows his followers a glimpse of the tattoo, which he opted to get on his leg, when it was halfway completed. Barnes' latest tattoo is an image of Kobe and Gianna embracing during the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Your privacy is safe with us. Nothing says a family vacation like an RV, Princess Diana died when Harry was just 12 years old, It's looked — and felt — like a whole different world as we've been social distancing and attempting to keep each other safe, See All the Celebs Taking RV Trips This Summer, The Sweetest Photos of Princes Harry with Diana, From Empty Streets to Virtual Weddings: What Life Has Looked Like During the Coronavirus Pandemic. "Tattoo day. James got his tattoo in late January, just days after Kobe's death. If you are going to emulate anyone, why not emulate the greatest and Kobe did as good a job as you could of making Kobe Bryant, Jordan 2.0.”. Bryant would watch Barnes’s twins play basketball as well, sending them shoes so they could be styling on the court. Even almost seven months after the fact, Kobe and his daughter perishing in such a shocking, unusual manner still seems almost impossible to comprehend. I loved the chance I got to play with the next best thing next to Mike.”. We are working with them to enable your sports experiences again as quickly as possible. He felt honored to be on the same team as Kobe. Watching “The Last Dance” made Barnes realize he had experienced what it was like to play with Jordan at practice with the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant. Here goes my tattoo prep kit," Barnes says on his Story as he flips the camera to show a series of snacks he prepared. Barnes considers that a badge of honer that comes with the price of winning, being the best. Barnes is working with the new documentary-style series BLACKBALLED, which can be watched on Quibi. “As a fan of the game and as a fan of Michael Jordan, I would like to see Mike just being able to smile and laugh and show everyone that life is good.”.

Bryant came on Barnes podcast All The Smoke, and Barnes would go watch Kobe coach his daughter Gigi on the basketball court. Jim Harbaugh sounds pretty optimistic, 5 things we want to see from Stargirl season 1, BLACKBALLED, which can be watched on Quibi, Former Kentucky Star Tyrese Maxey Signs with LeBron James' Agent, Rich Paul, Utah Jazz announce passing of former coach Jerry Sloan, The Whiteboard: Breaking down Bradley Beal to the Nets trade rumors, Paul Pierce can't be trusted in any criticism of LeBron James.

Matt Barnes got a tattoo of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant.

We'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, or the like. If you’re able to develop lifelong friendships through that, its only icing on the cake. One of the more interesting and artistic tributes belongs to former NBA forward Matt Barnes, who immortalized both father and daughter on his body forever. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: Retired Lakers Player Matt Barnes Gets Kobe and Gianna Bryant Tribute Tattoo. “To be able to see the real side of Mike, which was crazy, that was Kobe,” Barnes said. You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. Our data provider is having technical issues, live scoring and stats are impacted.
You play basketball to win, and make as much money as you can while you can. Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now? His 14-year career in the NBA started just after Jordan retired for the final, final time from the Washington Wizards. Bryant wasn’t the most popular teammate at times and neither was Jordan.

“When you hear all this sensitive talk, well I wouldn’t want to play with Mike, it’s about winning. Matt Barnes is paying tribute to Kobe and Gianna Bryant with a new tattoo (via @TMZ, @TMZ_Sports)https://t.co/yt9yFlbLTm pic.twitter.com/ykR00g7vcZ. After news of Kobe and Gianna's death, Barnes shared several tribute posts on social media. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Exclusive: Biden campaign tells miners it supports domestic production of EV metals, Workers who lost jobs because of COVID-19 find new careers in these fields. Matt Barnes never got to play with or against Michael Jordan. Powered by Minute Media © 2020 All Rights Reserved. Barnes saw Kobe enjoying his life, something he hopes Jordan will emulate. For the last six months, the tributes to Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his family after he and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among those killed in a helicopter crash have poured in on almost a non-stop basis. Matt Barnes is honoring the life of his former teammate, Kobe Bryant, with a new tattoo. Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on All NBA and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.