Harrison Barnes has been an NBA starter since 2016, but a slow shooting season and the continued improvement of Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie relegated the veteran to the bench.
The San Antonio Spurs may have had their 11-game winning streak snapped on Sunday, but they remain one of the deepest and best teams in the entire NBA.
With an elite starting lineup and Dylan Harper, Keldon Johnson, Luke Kornet, and Harrison Barnes coming off the bench, the Spurs have a balance of championship-caliber veterans and exciting young players to build around.
Last season, Harrison Barnes was one of the most reliable players on the roster, starting all 82 games for the third year in a row. Entering the season, he hadn't come off the bench since 2016, although a shooting clump caused Mitch Johnson to relegate him to the second unit.
By all accounts, Barnes has taken the "demotion" in stride and continues to be a steady hand for the Spurs.
Spurs Praise Harrison Barnes
Before he was moved to the second unit, Barnes was shooting 37% from deep, which is solid, but nowhere near the 43.3% mark he set last season.
Plus, it didn't help that he had made only 26.2% of his attempts from beyond the arc in his final 15 games in the starting lineup. Add in Devin Vassell's return from injury, and the Spurs didn't hesitate, moving Barnes to the bench.
Since then, the veteran has improved his shooting mark to 40.8% from deep and has continued to be a solid do-all forward in more limited minutes.
As Barnes prepares for free agency in the summer, there's no guarantee that the Spurs will offer him a contract, but his acceptance of any role and steady hand as a shooting threat should ensure that he has plenty of options after this season is over.
Even in his reduced role, the Spurs are singing his praises.
"He accepted his role with no problem," offered Victor Wembanyama. "I think he's been smooth. It's allowed Devin, as well, to show some great things."
With Vassell and Champagnie on the wings in the starting five, there's more room for De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle to drive to the basket. Plus, with a steady veteran hand playing next to rookie point guard Dylan Harper, the second unit is a bit more reliable and consistent, which only gives the Spurs a boost as they prepare for the playoffs.