Sacramento Kings forward Matt Barnes (left) is reportedly willing to surrender to authorities for allegedly hitting a woman in the face. (AP/Rich Pedroncelli)
NBA veteran Matt Barnes has provided quite a spark off the bench for the Sacramento Kings this season, but according to a New York Daily News Report, his year may be cut short due to his most recent run-in with the law.
Following his involvement in a nightclub brawl in Chelsea, New York last month, the 36-year-old forward will reportedly turn himself in to authorities “possibly as soon as next week.”
Barnes, along with teammate DeMarcus Cousins, are facing misdemeanor charges for allegedly starting an altercation which took place last December 5, following a road game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Although both players are not yet off the hook, Barnes has been wanted for questioning by New York police officers for allegedly choking a woman in the club and punching two other people who tried to defuse the situation.
The plaintiffs, Jasmine Besiso and Myrone Powell, as per TMZ, sued the NBA players after claiming that Barnes choked Besiso, while Cousins punched Powell when he tried to intervene.
After allegedly letting go of Besiso’s neck, the 14-year veteran was also accused of elbowing her in the face, knocking her out in the process.
Barnes, meanwhile, is considered as the NBA’s resident bad boy for his often volatile behavior on and off the court.
In 2015, the former UCLA Bruin reportedly drove 95 miles to “beat the [expletive] out of ex-Laker teammate Derek Fisher, who is now dating Barnes’ ex-wife, Gloria Govan.
READ: Knicks’ Fisher has altercation with Matt Barnes
In his first season in Sacramento, Barnes is averaging 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds. Khristian Ibarrola