Harrison Barnes started all 93 games he played in last season for the Golden State Warriors, but the acquisition of Andre Iguodala means the second-year man likely faces the prospect of coming off the bench.
Harrison Barnes fine with coming off Warriors’ bench
The second-year forward is okay playing a sixth man role with Golden State’s acquisition of Andre Iguodala.
USA TODAY Sports
Barnes said he’s not worried about his role on the team, however, according to Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times:
“I can imagine much worse problems,” Barnes said. “I feel confident about this team and where we can go. Regardless if I’m starting or coming off the bench, I think we have a chance to make a serious playoff push.”
Barnes was somewhat inconsistent throughout his rookie campaign, averaging 9.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game during the regular season. The North Carolina product shot 43.9 percent overall and 35.9 percent from three-point range.
When David Lee tore his hip flexor in the first game of the postseason, Barnes saw a major uptick in playing time --and he rewarded the team’s confidence in him with some big games. Barnes averaged 16.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 38.4 minutes per contest in the postseason as his shooting percentages improved from the regular season. The forward shot 44.4 percent overall and 36.5 percent from three on over four attempts per game.
With Iguodala in the fold, Barnes will likely see playing time akin to what he saw in the regular season. That may not be the best thing for Barnes’ individual development, but having Iguodala on the roster should make the Warriors a more legitimate threat in the Western Conference.
And, according to Barnes, “winning the game matters more” than whether he starts or is on the floor at the end of games anyway.
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