by Sam Amick

Filed under: Lakers, Magic, NBA Free Agents

SAN FRANCISCO — The official start of Matt Barnes‘ time with the defending champions may be two months away, but it seems he’s already achieved his dream.

His “Dream Team,” which includes Philadelphia’s Jason Kapono, downed the San Francisco City Gold Rush 90-88 on Wednesday night to win the title in this late-summer Pro-Am league. After winning a best-of-three series in two games, the newest Laker is surrounded by stench and adulation in the back of a dingy locker room inside Kezar Pavilion.

Life as a role player will resume soon enough, but Barnes is the Kobe Bryant of this realm.

The red shirts bear his name — Matt Barnes Ent. — and teammates who can only dream of his good hoops fortune all compliment his game. They take pictures, sharing hugs and handshakes while the wild crowd waits outside. This celebration ends in true Barnes form, with a message at the huddle break that he surely must have scripted beforehand.

“Make ‘em hate us,” they yell.