Barnes Jokes Lakers Are Now Their Lightest-Skinned Team in Decades

Matt Barnes thinks the Los Angeles Lakers are suddenly way less diverse than in past years. The former NBA champ joked about it during a chat with TMZ Sports, smiling the whole time. He said the current squad is basically the whitest group the Lakers have had since back when the team lived in Minneapolis. So yeah, he made it a whole comedy bit instead of sounding mad about it.

Even with the jokes, Barnes was quick to say he respects what the team is doing. He mentioned Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves as two of the top scoring guards in the league right now. Barnes talked about the new depth they added and said he wants to actually watch the games before making any big predictions. Most fans and analysts throw out wild takes, but he would rather just see how it all plays out on the court.

LeBron James is gone now after eight years with the franchise. That means the team is about to start the Dončić era, and the front office is clearly building everything around him. Dončić even got a new big man to play with. Walker Kessler came over through a sign-and-trade deal and signed a four-year extension worth around $130 million. The team also locked in Reaves with a huge contract, four years and $185 million max, including a player option for the final year.

The roster got even deeper when they brought in several new faces. Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams, and Matisse Thybulle all joined the group. Barnes is curious how it all works together, especially with questions still hanging over who owns the team. He pointed out that the Lakers always bounce back fast when things go bad, so this season could get really interesting to watch.