In 2023, NBA players were informed that they were allowed to consume and invest in cannabis, something many of them—along with peers in every other major sports league—had already been doing. The league has had many prominent weed users and advocates speak up about the plant, most recently, Kevin Durant. The connection between NBA players and weed is not new, though. Matt Barnes, who won a championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and retired the same year, recently spoke about how he used the plant before games.
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In a podcast clip from April 2024, Barnes told Pablo Torre that he regularly smoked before games—and that he believed it made him play better. As a defensive specialist, Barnes was often tasked with guarding the best player on the floor (meaning he was going toe to toe with the likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and, as he mentions, Kobe Bryant).
“I wouldn’t say that cannabis directly makes you better from an enhancement standpoint of an HGH or a steroid or something like that. I would say it enhances your play because you get a great night’s sleep. It helps with inflammation,” said Barnes. “I smoke before I play, so I’m watching game film on [Kobe] and I’m high. So I’m tuned in to his moves. I know his rhythm.”
Barnes has spoken extensively about weed before. He started smoking at 14 and has been open about how his father and others like him were affected by the war on drugs.
He’s also shared his past tips for passing the NBA’s then-enforced drug tests. According to him, there was a three-strike policy, but because of the connections he made, he was able to fly by on “2.75 strikes” before his retirement.
“I would keep myself fully hydrated and eat very clean, but I had to constantly sweat. That and detox drinks helped me to pass my tests. I don’t know how many I took over 15 years, but I know it helped to keep my system flushed.”
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The NBA has made strides since Barnes was active, but athletes in other leagues, such as the NFL, are still bound by the rigid rules prohibiting marijuana. If Barnes’s claim is true, perhaps sports leagues should allow their players to smoke, as they might be missing out on more relaxed, happy, and healthy players.