By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-01 14:57:57
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
周一上午，在胜利资本表演中心举行的马刺媒体日活动上，马刺球员哈里森·巴恩斯发表讲话。
听马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)讲述这个故事，你会觉得这是一见钟情。
早在去年 7 月马刺队策划从萨克拉门托将哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)交易到圣安东尼奥之前，波波维奇就一直垂涎这位国王队的前锋。
这种迷恋始于 2019 年，当时巴恩斯在中国为波波维奇和美国队参加了国际篮联篮球世界杯。
“基本上就是在那时候，我爱上了他，”波波维奇说。“从那以后，我一直在想办法把他弄到这里来。”
本周，当巴恩斯得知波波维奇对他长期以来的“迷恋”时，他笑了。对于他最早为美国男篮效力波波维奇的经历，他有不同的回忆。
“在我第一次参加录像分析会时，他把我骂了一顿，”巴恩斯说。
随着巴恩斯最终披上马刺队的战袍，这位 32 岁的老将可以预料到波波维奇将会进行更多残酷的录像分析会。毕竟，严格的指导是波波维奇表达爱意的方式之一。
为了给他们超级年轻的更衣室增添一些经验，马刺队在 7 月份从萨克拉门托挖走了巴恩斯。当时国王队正在与芝加哥公牛队商讨全明星后卫德玛尔·德罗赞（DeMar DeRozan，他本人也是从圣安东尼奥转会而来）的交易，需要交易一名球员以腾出足够的薪资空间来完成这笔交易。
马刺队抓住了这个机会，令波波维奇高兴的是，他们能够接纳巴恩斯和他 1800 万美元的合同。
五年前，巴恩斯最初吸引波波维奇的特质依然存在。
“他是一位领袖，一位伟大的队友，”波波维奇说。“无论他是出现失误还是投进三分球，他都会继续下一回合。他不会因此而沾沾自喜或垂头丧气。他只会走上球场，继续比赛。”
2024 年 3 月 7 日，加利福尼亚州萨克拉门托——在 2024 年 3 月 7 日于加利福尼亚州萨克拉门托金州中心举行的 NBA 篮球比赛第三节，萨克拉门托国王队的哈里森·巴恩斯（40 号）带球突破圣安东尼奥马刺队的杰里米·索汉（Jeremy Sochan，10 号）。用户须知：用户明确承认并同意，下载或使用本照片，即表示用户同意盖蒂图片社许可协议的条款和条件。(照片由 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images 拍摄）
巴恩斯和马刺队之间的爱慕是相互的。巴恩斯主动放弃了与萨克拉门托的交易否决权，以促成今年夏天的交易。
巴恩斯被圣安东尼奥吸引的部分原因是他之前与波波维奇共事的经历。
“我喜欢为他打球，”巴恩斯说，他在周二的训练营开幕式上参加了他作为马刺球员的第一次正式训练。“很明显，他知识渊博，而且他让我承担责任。在那短短的时间里，他让我成为了一名更好的球员。”
巴恩斯即将进入他的第 13 个赛季，职业生涯场均得分 14 分，他是马刺队阵容中唯一一位获得过 NBA 总冠军的球员（2015 年效力于金州勇士队）。在 2016 年里约热内卢奥运会上，他随美国队获得金牌，之后又在 2019 年世界杯上引起了波波维奇的注意。
尽管巴恩斯在 30 岁出头的时候开始有所放缓，但他上赛季在国王队场均得到 12.2 分。他的三分球命中率为 38.7%，高于今年马刺队阵容中的任何一名球员。
波波维奇说，除了维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)之外，他还没有确定其他的首发球员，但身高 6 英尺 8 英寸的巴恩斯很有可能进入首发阵容。在过去的两个赛季中，巴恩斯都参加了全部 82 场比赛并全部首发，自 2015-16 赛季以来，他就没有打过替补。
巴恩斯作为一名“劳模”的名声早于他来到圣安东尼奥。
“他是一位努力拼搏的赢家，”马刺队后卫特雷·琼斯(Tre Jones)说。“他一直在训练馆里，这已经是他 13 年来的习惯了。他会对我们有很大帮助。”
今年 7 月，在克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)与马刺队签约几天后，巴恩斯就被交易到了马刺队。不久之后，这两位新队友就开始在洛杉矶每周一起训练三次。
保罗立刻就被他打动了。
“不需要很长时间就能了解球员们的日常训练，”保罗说。“HB 就是一位完美的职业球员。”
与此同时，波波维奇将巴恩斯比作一位球衣悬挂在弗罗斯特银行中心的球员。
“他是艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)那种类型的球员，”波波维奇指的是马刺队在 1999 年获得第一个总冠军时的控球后卫。“他充分发挥了自己的能力。”
与保罗一样，马刺队也希望巴恩斯丰富的 NBA 经验能够传递给这支年轻的球队，因为他们大多只经历过失利的赛季。
巴恩斯在 23 岁时就随勇士队捧起了拉里·奥布莱恩冠军奖杯，他从斯蒂芬·库里(Stephen Curry)、克莱·汤普森(Klay Thompson)、德雷蒙德·格林(Draymond Green)和安德烈·伊格达拉(Andre Iguodala)等一批经验丰富的球员身上学到了很多东西。
2023 年，30 岁的他已经是一位经验丰富的老将，他帮助萨克拉门托国王队结束了长达 16 个赛季的季后赛荒，这是该球队历史上最长的一次。
如今，巴恩斯加盟了一支正处于创纪录的季后赛休赛期的马刺队，他们已经连续五个赛季无缘季后赛。
以下是巴恩斯从萨克拉门托漫长而缓慢的晋级道路中学到的东西：取得突破没有捷径。
“首先要从训练营和日常训练中养成良好的习惯，”巴恩斯说。“然后到了比赛的时候，就要把这些小事做好。不要让两分钟、四分钟的时间白白流逝。帮助年轻球员们明白，任何一场比赛都可能在一个赛季中创造积极或消极的势头。”
作为马刺队中为数不多的几位还能记起上世纪 90 年代的球员之一，巴恩斯并不回避成为一名导师的角色。
他也想确保自己在球场上尽职尽责。很明显，巴恩斯的油箱里还有一些油，从他上赛季对阵勇士队时砍下的 39 分就可以看出这一点。
“我认为这支球队里的任何人都不会想听励志演讲，”巴恩斯说。“你必须走上球场，你必须去做。对我来说，这是向别人展示如何做事的最好方式。”
虽然巴恩斯在马刺队的效力时间还不长，但他对最终来到圣安东尼奥并不后悔。
“这些年轻人都很特别，因为他们愿意倾听，也渴望学习，”巴恩斯说。“能和这些家伙在一起，和他们一起比赛，一起努力，我感到很开心。我很期待这个赛季。”
自从五年前第一次相遇以来，波波维奇和巴恩斯之间的“爱情盛宴”仍在继续。
至少在第一次录像分析会之前是这样。
周一上午，在胜利资本表演中心举行的马刺媒体日活动上，马刺球员哈里森·巴恩斯摆姿势拍照。
周一上午，在胜利资本表演中心举行的马刺媒体日活动上，马刺球员哈里森·巴恩斯摆姿势拍照。
2024 年 7 月 9 日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，哈里森·巴恩斯（之前效力于萨克拉门托国王队，现已被交易至圣安东尼奥马刺队）在马刺队举行的新闻发布会上向媒体发表讲话。
2024 年 7 月 9 日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，哈里森·巴恩斯（之前效力于萨克拉门托国王队，现已被交易至圣安东尼奥马刺队）在马刺队举行的新闻发布会上向媒体发表讲话。
2024 年 7 月 9 日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，哈里森·巴恩斯（之前效力于萨克拉门托国王队，现已被交易至圣安东尼奥马刺队）在马刺队举行的新闻发布会上向媒体发表讲话。
2024 年 7 月 9 日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，哈里森·巴恩斯（之前效力于萨克拉门托国王队，现已被交易至圣安东尼奥马刺队）在马刺队举行的新闻发布会上向媒体发表讲话。
2024 年 3 月 7 日，加利福尼亚州萨克拉门托——在 2024 年 3 月 7 日于加利福尼亚州萨克拉门托金州中心举行的 NBA 篮球比赛第四节，萨克拉门托国王队的哈里森·巴恩斯（40 号）在圣安东尼奥马刺队的杰里米·索汉（10 号）防守下投篮。用户须知：用户明确承认并同意，下载或使用本照片，即表示用户同意盖蒂图片社许可协议的条款和条件。(照片由 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images 拍摄）
2024 年 3 月 7 日，星期四，在加利福尼亚州萨克拉门托举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛的上半场，萨克拉门托国王队前锋哈里森·巴恩斯（40 号）在圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉（右）的防守下扣篮。(美联社照片/Jed Jacobsohn)
点击查看原文：Gregg Popovich, Spurs greet Harrison Barnes like long-lost love
Gregg Popovich, Spurs greet Harrison Barnes like long-lost love
Spurs Harrison Barnes speaks during Spurs Media Day activities Monday morning at the Victory Capital Performance Center.
To hear Spurs coach Gregg Popovich tell the tale, it was a matter of love at first sight.
Even before the Spurs engineered the trade that brought Harrison Barnes from Sacramento to San Antonio last July, Popovich had been guilty of coveting the Kings’ forward.
The infatuation began in 2019, when Barnes played for Popovich and Team USA at the FIBA World Cup in China.
“That’s basically when I fell in love with him,” Popovich said. “I’ve been actually trying to figure out a way to get him here ever since.”
Apprised this week of Popovich’s long-held crush on him, Barnes laughed. He has a different recollection of his earliest days playing for Popovich with USA Basketball.
“He killed me in my first film session,” Barnes said.
With Barnes at last in silver and black, the 32-year-old veteran can expect more brutal film sessions to come from Popovich. After all, tough coaching is one of the ways Popovich shows his affection.
Looking to add an uptick of experience to their uber-green locker room, the Spurs poached Barnes from Sacramento in July. The Kings were in the process of trading with Chicago for All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan – himself a San Antonio expatriate – and needed to move a player to create sufficient salary cap space to make the deal happen.
Enter the Spurs, who to Popovich’s delight were able to absorb Barnes and his $18-million contract.
The qualities that first enamored Barnes to Popovich five years ago remain in effect.
“He’s a leader, a great teammate,” Popovich said. “He just goes on to the next play, whether it was a turnover or he makes a three. He’s not impressed or depressed. He just goes out and plays.”
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 07: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket on Jeremy Sochan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on March 07, 2024 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The love affair between Barnes and the Spurs was mutual. Barnes volunteered to waive a no-trade clause with Sacramento to allow this summer’s swap to occur.
Part of Barnes’ attraction to San Antonio was his previous experience with Popovich.
“I loved playing for him,” said Barnes, who went through his first official Spurs practice with Tuesday’s training camp opener. “Obviously he’s just a wealth of knowledge, definitely held me accountable. He made me a better player in that short period of time.”
A career 14-points-per-game scorer entering his 13th season, Barnes is the only player on the Spurs’ roster to have won an NBA championship (with Golden State in 2015). He earned a gold medal with Team USA at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro before catching Popovich’s eye at the 2019 World Cup.
Though beginning to slow down a tad in his early 30s, Barnes averaged 12.2 points for the Kings last season. He shot 38.7% from 3-point range, better than any player on this year’s Spurs roster.
Popovich says he has yet to iron out a starting five beyond Victor Wembanyama, but there is a good chance the 6-foot-8 Barnes will be in it. Barnes has played in and started all 82 games in each of the past two seasons, and has not come off the bench since 2015-16.
Barnes’ reputation as a workhorse preceded him to San Antonio.
“He is a winner who works hard,” Spurs guard Tre Jones said. “He is always in the gym, and that’s kind of been the thing throughout his 13 years. He will be great for us.”
Barnes was traded to the Spurs a few days after Chris Paul signed with the team in July. Not long after, the pair of new teammates began working out together three times a week in Los Angeles.
Paul was immediately impressed.
“It doesn’t take long to get a chance to see guys’ routines,” Paul said. “HB is just a consummate pro.”
Popovich, meanwhile, compares Barnes to a player whose jersey hangs in the Frost Bank Center rafters.
“He’s one of those Avery Johnson kind of guys,” Popovich said, referencing the point guard on the Spurs’ first championship team in 1999. “He gets everything out of his abilities.”
As with Paul, the Spurs are hoping the width and breadth of Barnes’ NBA experiences will trickle down to a young roster that has mostly known losing seasons.
Barnes was 23 when he hoisted the Larry O’Brien championship with the Warriors, learning the ropes from a slew of established veterans like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala.
He was an established veteran himself in 2023, when at age 30 he helped Sacramento stop a 16-season playoff drought, the longest in that franchise’s history.
Now Barnes joins a Spurs team in the midst of its own record-setting playoff fallow period, having missed the postseason for five consecutive seasons.
Here is what Barnes learned from the long, slow climb in Sacramento: There are no shortcuts to a breakthrough.
“It starts with building good habits in training camp and practices,” Barnes said. “Then when it comes to game time, it’s just executing the little things. Not letting two minutes, four minutes go here or there. Helping young guys understand that any game can create momentum, either positive or negative in a season.”
As one of the few players on the Spurs’ roster able to remember the ‘90s, Barnes doesn’t shy away from the idea of being a mentor.
He also wants to make sure he is pulling his weight on the floor. Clearly, there is something left in Barnes’ tank, as evidenced by the 39-point game he dumped on the Warriors last season.
“I don’t think anybody on this team wants to hear a motivational speaker,” Barnes said. “You’ve got to go out there and you have to do it. To me, that’s the best way to show somebody how things are done.”
It is still early in his Spurs tenure, but Barnes has no regrets about winding up in San Antonio.
“These young guys are all special in the fact that they listen and they want to learn,” Barnes said. “It’s been just a joy to be around all these guys, compete and work with them. I look forward to this season.”
Five years since they first met, the lovefest continues between Popovich and Barnes.
At least until the first film session.
Spurs Harrison Barnes poses for pictures during Spurs Media Day activities Monday morning at the Victory Capital Performance Center.
Spurs Harrison Barnes poses for pictures during Spurs Media Day activities Monday morning at the Victory Capital Performance Center.
Harrison Barnes, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs while previously playing for the Sacramento Kings, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
Harrison Barnes, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs while previously playing for the Sacramento Kings, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
Harrison Barnes, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs while previously playing for the Sacramento Kings, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
Harrison Barnes, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs while previously playing for the Sacramento Kings, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 07: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings shoots over Jeremy Sochan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on March 07, 2024 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (40) dunks against San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News