Udonis Haslem spent 20 seasons with the Miami Heat, winning three NBA titles, including one over the San Antonio Spurs. He was a physical player, great defender, and solid rebounder, but no one remembers him for his on-court accomplishments.
Across his final seven NBA seasons, he only appeared in 65 games. His playstyle had taken a toll, and while he wasn’t ready to walk away from the game just yet, the game was pretty much done with him. Luckily, he had a breadth of knowledge and wisdom, and didn’t mind taking the 15th-man role, as long as it meant staying on a roster and around basketball.
Almost every team in the NBA wants to have a guy like him on the bench or in the locker room. Jeff Green, Garrett Temple, James Johnson, JJ Barea, and Nick Collison all rode off into the sunset in a similar way.
Most of those guys spent their entire career–or the vast majority–with one team. They were never a legend, but were good enough to stick around and amicable enough to accept a smaller role.
The San Antonio Spurs, if they play their cards right, could get a similar veteran mentor.
Harrison Barnes Could Become a Spurs’ Legend
Guys like Haslem, Collison, and Barea are all beloved on the teams where they aged with grace. A key part of their success was that they could hold their own in practice, step aside during games, and provide valuable, winning mentorship.
After signing a one-year deal to return to the Spurs, Harrison Barnes seems like the most likely Spurs player to be offered the Haslem Role.
Granted, Barnes’ highest highs came with the Golden State Warriors. He is not a Spurs icon in any sense. Sure, he’s been a reliable wing for the Spurs as they came out the other end of their rebuild, but number 40 will not make his way into the rafters.
And yet…
Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but as the Spurs take a step forward and kick off another dynasty, having a steady hand in the locker room goes a long way. Keldon Johnson seems like a more viable candidate, since he was drafted by the Spurs. However, any winning experience he picks up will be shared with everyone else on the roster. Barnes has already made it to the top of the mountain.
This summer, he was offered $8 million to stay in San Antonio for one more season. He is 34 years old. Haslem played until he was 42, so Barnes still has a long way to go. If he’s willing to see the court only a handful of times per season and be more of a coach than a player (and get paid like it, too), then there’s no reason why he should be pushed out the door.
Of course, players often want to age like Haslem, but then start to demand the ball more and more. It’s why guys like Chris Paul got forced out instead of a retirement tour. Barnes, fortunately, seems more like the former than the latter.
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