The Caitlin Clark discourse has predictably jumped the shark.
Matt Barnes has been at the forefront of the commentary, joining the ranks of former NBA players calling for the Indiana Fever to sign an enforcer. And that’s come after Clark has been welcomed to the WNBA with a new level of physicality. And in the aftermath of Chennedy Carter’s cheap shot, the floodgates have opened up, with this arguably being the biggest story in sports over the weekend.
That saw those like Gina Paradiso make a pretty innocuous comment about women’s sports, which has now reached the male-dominated sports podcasting space. Even though Paradiso didn’t call out anyone in particular, her sentiment didn’t seem to resonate with Barnes, who told the CCO of LIFT Sports Management that she ought to “humble yourself.”
Humble yourself Gina. Don’t forget where you started. Nobody knew you b4 stak hired you & I got you a job at CAA.. You rep a couple big women in the W now & you think you doin something. #YouStillAintShit
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) June 3, 2024
It’s unclear whether Barnes was joking—there’s no definitive way to tell in this context—but the situation is especially compounded by the fact that there’s a preexisting relationship there. And he’s telling Paradiso not to forget where she started.
Paradiso’s career trajectory involved a transition from NBA talent producer at ESPN, where she managed bookings across platforms (and played a key role in launching shows like Rachel Nichols’ The Jump), to sports agent. While her experience at ESPN likely contributed to this shift, Barnes still seemingly takes credit for getting her a job at CAA from 2022-23, notably after a stint as an agent at ICM Partners.
Barnes went on to say that nobody knew her before Stephen Jackson (“Stak,” Barnes’ All The Smoke co-host) hired her to be his manager. It’s conceivable that she met both Barnes and Jackson through The Jump. And while Barnes claims to have influenced where she is today, repping a “couple big women in the W,” the extent of his involvement remains unsubstantiated.
But even seemingly, that seems like an unfair way to characterize Paradiso’s rise in the industry. Yes, she’s known for managing personalities like Jackson and launching podcasts like The Betting Academy, which she co-hosted with Kendrick Perkins. Still, she’s also made a name for herself in representing female basketball players. If Barnes wants to reduce her role to being a nobody until he and Jackson come around, that’s certainly his prerogative, but it just wouldn’t be based on fact.
While Barnes’ motives remain unclear, it seems unlikely Paradiso was referencing him specifically, especially given their past association. Many sports media personalities, not just those on All The Smoke, have extensively discussed Clark.
Barnes’ initial criticism about the Fever needing an enforcer held some merit, considering similar calls from other sports media personalities and former players.
However, his response to Paradiso, who offered an innocuous comment and an observation at that, feels misplaced.
It just goes to show the current discourse’s disarray.
We can discuss male commentary entering the WNBA space without resorting to personal attacks or questioning someone’s career based on perceived slights. Barnes has made valid points about Clark, but this exchange with Paradiso undermines them.
Remember, this is the same Barnes who said he wasn’t willing to disrespect former players for clicks. It looks like all bets regarding former colleagues are off, though.
