FEVER PITCH
‘You should be ashamed,’ says Matt Barnes as ex-NBA star slams Indiana Fever players for ‘not protecting’ Caitlin Clark
Clark was embroiled in a viral incident with Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter
FORMER NBA star Matt Barnes has launched a tirade against the Indiana Fever.
The one-time NBA champion, 44, accused Fever players of failing to protect "star asset" Caitlin Clark.
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Rookie sensation Clark was involved in a viral incident with Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter on Saturday.
Carter aggressively defended Clark as she awaited an inbound pass in the Fever's 72-71 win, slamming the 22-year-old to the floor.
"That's not just a basketball play," Clark told ESPN following the game, as the WNBA world united to condemn the foul.
"But, you know, got to play through it. That's what basketball is about at this level."
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Since being drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft, Barnes claims Clark has been a "target" for other teams.
"Throughout the season, she’s been getting beat up," Barnes told All The Smoke podcast.
"Hard screens, elbows, knocked down. It is what it is - she’s not the first, she won’t be the last.
"My issue and my question is, where the f**k are her teammates at?
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"Where y’all at? Where are the rest of the Indiana Fever at?"
Clark was helped to her feet following the Carter shove by Fever center Aliyah Boston.
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But Barnes isn't convinced that senior members of the Fever are doing enough to help the rookie.
"I’ve seen a couple of girls smirk when she’s got knocked down, half-ass to pick her up," Barnes continued.
"Like, y’all supposed to protect the asset, protect the star.
"And although this is a team, you always protect your star. I was someone who protected the stars."
Barnes spent 14 seasons in the NBA and became a champion for the first time in 2017 with the Golden State Warriors.
A fourth-round pick in 2022, he played alongside Kobe Bryant for the Los Angeles Lakers and enjoyed stints with the LA Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Phoenix Suns.
"You f**k with Kobe, [Chris Paul], Blake [Griffin], the list goes on, it’s going to be a problem," he added.
"You guys are supposed to be a family. And you wonder why you sit at the bottom of the league right now, it’s because y’all don’t protect each other, man.
"Coach don’t do s**t about it, players don’t do s**t about it. Y’all should be ashamed of it."
The Fever returned to action in New York on Sunday night.
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Clark scored just 3 points as Indiana was blown out by the New York Liberty.
The loss drops the Fever to 2-9 on the WNBA season, while the Liberty improve to 7-2.