Harrison Barnes' blunt ‘luxury' take on place among young Spurs core
At 33 years old, Harrison Barnes is ancient compared to most of the youth who make up the San Antonio Spurs' core.
Advertisement
'Me and Chris, we're like the same age,' Barnes joked on the last day of the season in mentioning Chris Paul, who has since turned 40.
That Barnes is viewed on the future Hall-of-Famer's level in any aspect is a credit to the Spurs veteran forward. Barnes' two appearances in the NBA Finals, including a ring with the Golden State Warriors, and his role with a Sacramento Kings franchise that broke a long playoff drought define him as a veteran who's had a positive impact.
He certainly had an effect on a San Antonio squad whose oldest returning player from the season before is still just 25 years old. It's a reality not lost on Barnes.
'I think once you hit 30, you're probably out of the core. I definitely just give my all to just continuing to prep, knowing that you can't play forever.'
Advertisement
However it's defined, Barnes makes no bones about how he sees these Spurs.
Harrison Barnes searches for a niche with the Spurs
Victor Wembanyama is just 21 years old. Stephon Castle is 20. They have two lottery picks this summer. While Barnes' play helped the Spurs to 12 more wins from the season before, his professionalism and effort – he played in all 82 games – may have delivered more of an impact.
'The way I look at it, and Chris and I have talked about it a lot, it's how do you continue to play the game, but also give back to next generation,' Barnes continued. 'I think when you're younger, you're always worried about what the core looks like or what my potential is or whatever, but when you get older, you realize you're on the back nine. You don't know how many seasons you have left, you don't know how many opportunities you have left to to go out there and do this.'
Advertisement
Barnes shot a career-best 51% from the field this season, including a personal high 43% from 3-point range, in averaging nearly 12-and-a-half points per game. Still, he's not consumed with what lies ahead.
'For me, it's always a matter of just giving the most effort that I can, whether that's to young guys, whether that's with my play, whatever it is,' Barnes said. 'So unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of of wondering if I'm still a part of a core or not.'
Barnes is under contract for another year. Reports about the Spurs' interest in high-profile stars this summer may affect that. Either way, a man who has a ring and has been a part of six postseason appearances, including a Play-in, has high praise for the youth San Antonio has assembled.
'The future is bright. This young group has is one of the more talented groups that I've been a part of, and I've been a part of some pretty good teams,' Barnes said. 'Now, hopefully, I'm not retired by the time all this talent has been realized, but the future's very bright for Spurs fans, so they should be excited.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
20 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Son Heung-min Announces He's Leaving Spurs Amid Links To LAFC
After 10 years with Tottenham, captain Son Heung-min announced on Saturday that he plans to leave the English Premier League club. Son, who helped Spurs win the Europa League title in May, said it was "the most difficult" decision of his career and added the club was supporting him as he looks to find another team, with Los Angeles FC a possible landing spot. The 33-year-old South Korea international will start against Newcastle in a preseason friendly Sunday in Seoul in what could be his final match with the team. Son, who scored 173 goals in 454 competitive appearances for Tottenham, opened the news conference by announcing he has "decided to leave this club in this summer" and that Spurs are "helping me to my decisions." "I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, very young age, a young boy came to London who even didn't speak English and leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment," said Son, who fought back tears during his announcement. "So I just want to say thank you to all of the Spurs fans," he added, "that gave me so much love and felt like it was my home. It was one of the toughest decisions I ever made.... But I think it's the right time to make this decision." Son was asked in Korean about his future playing plans, and he replied: "I don't think I have an answer yet." He has been heavily linked with a move to LAFC, and there is reported interest from Saudi Arabian clubs. Son also confirmed in Korean that he would play at the World Cup next summer in North America. In May, Son finally won his first title in Europe when Tottenham defeated Manchester United in the Europa League final — the club's first major trophy since 2008. After that match, he said: "I felt the pressure. I wanted it so badly. It finally happened, and I can sleep easy now." Son added that the team's recent success was a factor in his decision. "Winning the Europa League made me feel I had achieved everything I could here," he said. "I need a new environment for a fresh challenge." Son had been one of the biggest stars of the Premier League as he and Harry Kane became a formidable attacking partnership. Tottenham reached the Champions League final in 2019, losing to Liverpool. After Kane's departure to Bayern Munich in 2023, Son was made captain by former head coach Ange Postecoglou. Son a 'Spurs legend' Thomas Frank succeeded Postecoglou in June and the Danish coach paid tribute to Son on Saturday. "He is truly a Spurs legend in every aspect," Frank said. "One of the best players to ever play in the Premier League, in my opinion, as a winger. I think it is probably the perfect timing, going out on a high." Son is No. 5 on Tottenham's all-time goalscoring list, led by Kane (280 goals). Among other impressive stats, Son's 333 Premier League appearances is second-most in club history, trailing only Hugo Lloris (361). Later in the news conference, Son reiterated he has not decided on his next club. But he said next year's World Cup is his No. 1 priority for his home country. "I think I can share more about my future after tomorrow's game once things become more certain," he said. "My most important priority right now is the World Cup. It's likely to be my last World Cup and I want to give everything I have in that environment. I want to be able to play football happily, which I think will play the biggest role in my future decision-making. I am still trying to organize my thoughts around that." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 1 Get more from the MLS Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Former Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic signs $165 million extension with Lakers
The Dallas Mavericks will have to watch their former star in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future. On Saturday, Luka Doncic agreed to a three-year, $165 million deal with the Lakers, according to a report from Marc Stein. The former Mavericks star was dealt to the Lakers in a shocking trade in February, and he is now set to be on the West Coast throughout his prime. Doncic has formed a superstar duo with LeBron James since arriving in Los Angeles, and those two promise to help the Lakers contend for a title next season and perhaps beyond. While James' future is still up in the air, Doncic's extension signals that the Lakers are ready to build around the 26-year-old star for years to come. As for the Mavericks, this is another crushing blow in the saga that has resulted in non-stop criticism and backlash, particularly for GM Nico Harrison. Still, the Mavericks boast one of the most interesting rosters in the West and could be right there with the Lakers competing for a title next season and beyond. Still, the Slovenian superstar just led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024 and was a fan favorite who expected to spend his entire career in Dallas. Although there is no guarantee that Doncic ever wins an MVP or an NBA title, any accolades he accumulates in Los Angeles will only sting for fans in Dallas. With plenty of motivation to perform with the Lakers, Doncic will again be one of the top players in the league next season, and the Mavericks will simply have to watch as their former superstar dominates.
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Bam Adebayo satisfied with Heat's offseason moves: ‘It's a very good shake up for our team'
Miami Heat captain and cornerstone Bam Adebayo predicted an offseason of change for the franchise. 'There are going to be a lot of changes this summer,' Adebayo said in late April just a few days after the Heat was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. 'Just from my point of view, understanding how the guy with the silver hair [Heat president Pat Riley) works. So just be prepared for that.' So far, the Heat has three new faces on its standard roster for next season — Simone Fontecchio, Kasparas Jakucionis and Norman Powell. Those from last season's season-ending standard roster who are no longer with the Heat are Kyle Anderson, Alec Burks, Kevin Love and Duncan Robinson. Is that enough change for a Heat team that has been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, has needed to qualify for the playoffs through the NBA's play-in tournament in each of the last three seasons, and finished this past regular season with a losing record for the first time since the 2018-19 season and just the sixth time in Riley's 30 seasons with the organization? 'It's a very good shake up for our team and now there's a different dynamic to it,' Adebayo said Saturday, making his first comments to South Florida media since the end of last season during a break at his sixth annual youth basketball clinic at SLAM! Miami charter school. While Adebayo has not yet won an NBA championship, the three-time NBA All-Star knows what it takes to make a deep playoff run. Boston's Jaylen Brown (135 playoff appearances) and Jayson Tatum (121 playoff appearances), Denver's Jamal Murray (79 playoff appearances) and Adebayo (78 playoff appearances) are the only players in the league currently younger than 29 years old who have already appeared in at least 78 playoff games during their NBA careers. Adebayo hopes the addition of Powell, who produced All-Star caliber numbers last season, can help the Heat get back to winning playoff series. Powell averaged a career-high 21.8 points to go with 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 48.4% from the field and 41.8% on 7.1 three-point attempts per game for the Los Angeles Clippers last season. Powell was among six NBA players who averaged at least 21 points per game while shooting better than 48% from the field and better than 40% from three-point range last regular season along with Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine and Kawhi Leonard. 'I feel like Norman is one of those guys that floats under the radar,' said Adebayo, who turned 28 on July 18 and has already played in three Eastern Conference finals and two NBA Finals. 'But as you saw this year, he's really shown that he can be an All-Star caliber player. You've seen what he's done and you've seen him grow in this league. And, obviously, he wants to take the next challenge. Obviously, the next challenge is being with the Miami Heat. So I'm happy to have him.' The Heat also retained guard Davion Mitchell in free agency this offseason. Mitchell agreed to a new deal this summer worth $24 million over two seasons to return after thriving in Miami following his mid-season trade to the Heat as part of the Jimmy Butler deal in February. Following the trade to Miami, Mitchell averaged 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 44.7% on 3.1 three-point attempts per game in 30 regular-season appearances (15 starts) for the Heat. Mitchell's point-of-attack defense also immediately helped the Heat, as Miami allowed 3.4 fewer points per 100 possessions with Mitchell on the court compared to when he wasn't playing after the February trade. 'Davion being back, obviously, we've been missing somebody that can really play on-ball defense,' Adebayo said. 'And having him come in and be that guy and understand his role, I'm looking forward to him being here for a full year and all of us being together and getting to know one another and turning this into more of a brotherhood. We were kind of disconnected a little bit trying to figure out everybody's role and trying to figure out everybody's style of play. But now we're going to have a good training camp and then we go from there.' While Adebayo is satisfied with the Heat's roster changes this offseason, he has mixed emotions about some of the moves made because of the teammates he lost. 'I'm going to miss them, obviously,' Adebayo said of losing Robinson and Love as Heat teammates. 'Just because Duncan has been here for eight years and having that connection was special. And then K-Love was a leader that could speak to somebody from a championship level, could obviously encourage the younger group, be an example, but also he was the bridge between some of the coaches and the players. So like I said, I'm going to miss both of them. I'm glad we had the time that we did. It was, obviously, helpful for my growth and my development as a player and as a captain.' Adebayo's time in Miami continues after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Heat. Hosting his sixth annual youth basketball clinic in Miami is a reflection of his long Heat tenure. 'It just speaks to what I've done in the community and that people believe in Bam camp,' Adebayo said. 'They see it as an opportunity for kids to get better, kids to start understanding the game better. I take pride in that because these kids are our future. So it's my job to invest in them now and you never know what can happen.' As the Heat's captain and highest paid player, Adebayo hopes his ninth season with the Heat is his best yet. 'I care. That's the one thing that people don't understand about me – I care,' said Adebayo, who is under contract with the Heat through the 2028-29 season. 'I value relationships, I value me being loyal to this community.'
