It’s been more than a year now since Derek Fisher started coaching Matt Barnes’ sons in high school basketball. Few expected that same man to now coach those boys, but here we are. After all, not too long ago, these two had one of the most talked-about NBA beefs off the court. Back in 2015, The New York Post reported, Barnes drove nearly 95 miles to confront Fisher at a house he once shared with his then-wife, Gloria Govan. Yeah—it was that kind of wild.

Still, things weren’t exactly what they seemed. Fisher was dating Govan at the time, though her divorce with Barnes hadn’t been finalized yet. But Barnes later made it clear that his anger wasn’t about Fisher dating his ex. His concern was his kids. Apparently, one of his sons was feeling uneasy around the five-time NBA champ. Barnes later clarified that he only travelled “15 minutes before laying his hands on Fisher.”

That detail flips the whole script. “I live 15 minutes away, and I was going over to check on my kids because they seemed uncomfortable,” Barnes said. “That was my main reason for going over there.” Fast forward to now—and that same man is coaching his sons. So what is Fisher’s role?

While Isaiah Barnes admits the “dynamic is there, though.” Still, on the court, it’s a different vibe altogether. “He does a great job. Both dads do. They do a great job of coaching, but still being a father at the same time,” Isaiah added. More impressively, Fisher knows when to don his dad cap.

“Like even on the basketball court, when we’re actually in a game, like he’ll give me some like advice as a father instead of as a coach perspective to like, you know, really help me understand it a lot better.” His twin brother Carter was on the same page—and added a bit more to it.

Here’s how they divide duties. “One coaches us for travel ball. One coaches us for high school,” Carter shared. Though he’s quick to admit it isn’t always smooth. “There’s so many times where they tell me something and it’s in through one ear out the other.” But even so, the results are hard to ignore.

Carter’s numbers are up. From 7.3 points as a freshman to a solid 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game this season—he’s clearly growing. And Isaiah’s been just as impactful, averaging 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game this season over 59 outings. So, with the boys thriving on the court—how’s the relationship between Matt and Fisher now?

Where do Matt Barnes and Derek Fisher stand now?

A decade after Matt Barnes sped across Los Angeles to confront Derek Fisher in an infamous backyard brawl, the two men have not only buried the hatchet—they’ve become co‑parents in harmony. In July 2021, Barnes told TMZ that he and Fisher had “officially buried the hatchet,” emphasizing their shared priority: raising twin sons Carter and Isaiah with stability and love

Beyond the court, co‑parenting extends to family celebrations and public events. Barnes told People that after Fisher married Gloria Govan in July 2021, the three adults “are on the same page. We communicate and see each other when we’re at events. [The twins] have been to my house for their birthdays, and I’ve been to their place”. A viral clip saw Barnes seated behind the Crespi bench, applauding Fisher-coached drills, then embracing him courtside—proof that respect now trumps rivalry.

Their once‑explosive conflict now reads like a case study in reconciliation. As Barnes told VladTV, “For two Black men to squash it the way we did is monumental. At the end of the day, he’s the stepdad of my kids.”

Now, Fisher mentors Carter and Isaiah at Crespi Carmelite High, where both 16-year-olds are thriving. In just a few short years, the narrative has flipped: from headlines about “stealing my ex” to highlights of seamless co‑parenting. The youngsters have grown under the guidance of both dads, and their growth on the court says it all. Clearly, they have left whatever happened back then in the past.