We tend to forget him, because he is “only” 30 years old, but Harrison Barnes is none other than the most experienced player of Kings in the playoffs, taking into account this status of NBA champion obtained in 2015. Except that before this season, his last series already went back to… seven years and, during this one, he had a hole against the Cavaliers finally authors of an improbable comeback and which sounded at the same time the death knell of his adventure with the Warriors.
Seven years later, the winger has since passed through Dallas then Sacramento therefore finds the playoffs and, as a good “veteran”, he did not fail to explain to his youngest teammates that they should not take this kind of event for granted.
” It was mostly about recognition. », he details, about the speech he delivered to them ahead of the first round. ” A lot of guys assume it’s easy to make the playoffs. Everything is linked, there will be plenty of years to accomplish different things… But each year is unique. The health we’ve had — and I knock on wood for that to continue — which has allowed our players to play at a high level and have such a season, that doesn’t happen often. »
Ironically, it is against Golden State that Harrison Barnes sets foot in the stirrup this year, after having experienced several exercises made up and (especially) down. A franchise where he played his first four seasons in the league and with which he quickly made history, since he and his teammates at the time were never satisfied with a simple qualification.
” In the playoffs, everyone starts on an equal footing and you have the opportunity to leave your mark, to do something special “, he insists, about his mentality at this stage of the campaign. ” It’s not like we can say to ourselves: ‘Okay, we have reached the playoffs, but let’s throw in the towel this season, we will work and then progress the next two’. I rather say to myself: ‘It is now that we have the opportunity to do something big, that we must go all out, having the state of mind that we are going to make a playoff course and not a playoff appearance. »
The revenge of a model teammate
For the time being, we can say that things are going wonderfully for the Kings who, admittedly opposed to the reigning NBA champions, are already leading 2-0 in their series, thanks to two victories at home. Their part of the job is done and they will now have to steal at least one away game to dream of an elimination of the Warriors, they who have not been ousted from the playoffs by a Western team since… 2014 ( Clippers).
A scenario all the more crazy and surprising, if the most cursed franchise of the last ten years were to eliminate the happiest franchise of the last ten years as well. Enough to offer a great potential revenge to Harrison Barnes, the second player present in Sacramento for the longest time (behind De’Aaron Fox), who has questioned himself a lot since his departure from the Bay.
” I wondered if I was actually progressing, if I had any influence on the wins, if the task was too difficult for me and where the team was, where they were heading and if they could get it right… “, he concedes first. ” But today they are probably the best team we have had on paper, even though we were already talented in the past. See what Buddy is doing (or has done) elsewhere [Hield]Tyrese [Haliburton]Alec Burks, [Nemanja] Bjelica, or anyone else… In fact, it’s like everyone else seems to be better off and that’s when you wonder why it’s not happening here. Finally, it is gratifying to see [les choses fonctionner]because when this is not the case, you tell yourself that you are perhaps the cause. […] With the transfer requests and everything that may have happened, the adventure could have ended much sooner, but it’s pretty cool to see things come to fruition. »
Often mentioned – in spite of himself – in transfer rumors for a few years, Harrison Barnes will exceptionally be able to control things on his own this summer, because he will be free of any contract and will be able to test the market. It remains to be seen whether he will re-sign in California to continue this collective momentum, or whether he will be tempted by a new challenge…
” This is the third time I’ve experienced this… “, he confides at first. “ I’m confident things still work the way they should. The most important thing for me is to already make this playoff journey as memorable as possible. I’ve seen what it can do for a city, an organization, and a group to get to the point of being successful. […] If I can re-sign that will be great and we’ll take it from there, but if the executives want to go in a different direction, that’s business and there won’t be any hard feelings on my end. »
| Harrison Barnes | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2012-13 | GOS | 81 | 25 | 43.9 | 35.9 | 75.8 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 9.2 |
| 2013-14 | GOS | 78 | 28 | 39.9 | 34.7 | 71.8 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 9.5 |
| 2014-15 | GOS | 82 | 28 | 48.2 | 40.5 | 72.0 | 1.4 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 10.1 |
| 2015-16 | GOS | 66 | 31 | 46.6 | 38.3 | 76.1 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 4.9 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 11.7 |
| 2016-17 | DAL | 79 | 36 | 46.8 | 35.1 | 86.1 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 19.2 |
| 2017-18 | DAL | 77 | 34 | 44.5 | 35.7 | 82.7 | 1.0 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 18.9 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 77 | 33 | 42.0 | 39.5 | 82.4 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 16.4 |
| 2018-19 * | DAL | 49 | 32 | 40.4 | 38.9 | 83.3 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 17.7 |
| 2018-19 * | BAG | 28 | 34 | 45.5 | 40.8 | 80.0 | 0.8 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 14.3 |
| 2019-20 | BAG | 72 | 35 | 46.0 | 38.1 | 80.1 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 14.5 |
| 2020-21 | BAG | 58 | 36 | 49.7 | 39.1 | 83.0 | 1.1 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 16.1 |
| 2021-22 | BAG | 77 | 34 | 46.9 | 39.4 | 82.6 | 1.1 | 4.6 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 16.4 |
| 2022-23 | BAG | 82 | 33 | 47.3 | 37.4 | 84.7 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 15.0 |
| Total | 829 | 32 | 45.5 | 37.8 | 81.1 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 14.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
