Matt Barnes: Derek Fisher and I should’ve handled it like grown men, ‘but he wanted to run and tell the cops & NBA’

Matt Barnes reportedly attacked Derek Fisher, who’s dating Barnes estranged wife, Gloria Govan. Barnes then reportedly texted a friend to brag about beating up the Knicks coach and spitting in Govan’s face.

Both reports were written by the New York Post.

How does Barnes, a Grizzlies forward, view the incident now?

Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times:

Matt Barnes on Derek Fisher: "We're 2 grown men who should have handled 2 grown men's business, but he wanted to run and tell the cops & NBA

— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) November 9, 2015

Matt Barnes: "The New York Post is run by the New York Knicks, so it's obviously a way of trying to make me look like the bad guy."

— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) November 9, 2015

There are a few problems here:

1. It became impossible for Barnes and Fisher to handle this issue like grown men when Barnes allegedly drove to the house and fought Fisher.

2. If Barnes attacked Fisher, reporting a crime isn’t problematic.

3. The NBA reportedly didn’t know about the incident until a few days later. If he told on Barnes to the league, Fisher didn’t do a good job of it.

Fisher might not have handled this well. Dating a friend‘s ex is messy, and maybe Fisher could have done more to handle it like a grown man initially.

But there has been no evidence to justify the violence allegedly levied against Fisher and Govan.

Barnes needs to explain more or look in the mirror – probably both.