Harrison Barnes' professionalism, leadership critical for young Kings

Editor’s note: NBC Sports California’s second “King of the Day” this season is Harrison Barnes. Stay with our digital and TV coverage all day long to learn everything about the Kings' starting small forward.

After acquiring Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic via trade and drafting De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley, the Kings needed to add a young veteran to fill their small forward void.

They didn’t need another 20-year-old who would take more time to develop, but they also wanted someone who fit their player arc and could be part of the present and future.

Kings general manager Vlade Divac kicked the tires on a few options, and then made a decisive move when he swung a trade for Harrison Barnes last February.

Barnes isn’t flashy, but he’s another organizational building block who has spent the last few seasons adding talent with a focus on chemistry and character.

Outside of his ability to score, rebound and defend, Barnes is a pro’s pro. He’s become the behind-the-scenes leader for a Kings team that’s had some ups and downs this season but is growing and eyeing lofty goals.

Humble beginnings

Barnes didn’t have a picture-perfect childhood, but he credits his mother, Shirley, for a lot of who he has become. At a young age, Harrison and his mother were forced to live in a homeless shelter in Ames, Iowa. It was a brief stay until better housing came available and Shirley found work at Iowa State University.

Despite rough times, Harrison, along with his sister Jourdan-Ashle, were well-taken care of.

“Growing up in a single-parent household, it was just my mom, my sister and I,” Barnes recently told NBC Sports California in the latest Purple Talk podcast. “She did everything she could just to provide for us and make sure whether it was basketball or track, soccer, whatever it was, she always wanted to make sure I had the best possible opportunities to be successful.”

Shirley worked hard to take care of her family and provide an environment where her children could succeed.

“You can never repay that debt of her just believing in me, giving me those opportunities,” Barnes added. “Basketball was the path I chose, but whatever I wanted to do, she was always super supportive.”

In addition to raising two children, Shirley started an organization called “Suited For Work Clothing Closet,” which provided clothing for unemployed individuals to wear to job interviews. Harrison and Jourdan-Ashle helped sort and hang up clothes, and learned at an early age what it meant to give back to the community.

“We started to see the appreciativeness of people who would come in and who got the job -- real emotional,” Barnes said.

Barnes also spent many afternoons at the Boys and Girls Club, which still holds a special place in his heart. He’d go there after school, work on his homework, and then hit the basketball court hard.

Barnes, along with fellow NBA player Doug McDermott, led Ames High School to back-to-back undefeated seasons and two Iowa state championships.

Coming out of high school, Barnes was ranked the No. 1 prospect from the 2010 prep class. He committed to North Carolina, where he won ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2011.

It wasn’t a surprise when Barnes chose North Carolina for his college experience. In fact, the decision might have been made before he was even born.

Shirley Barnes loved Michael Jordan. She watched highlight tapes of the NBA superstar while she was pregnant with her son, and even took the next step of naming him after the Bulls legend.

Harrison Bryce Jordan Barnes was born on May 30, 1992. Jourdan-Ashle also is named after His Airness.

“Michael Jordan, he’s the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time), man,” Barnes said. “Just watching him, watching his game, the thing about him that made him so special is that he just perfected the simple. You look at his game and how he plays, how he gets to his spots, his movements, his efficiencies, you’re like, wow.”

Barnes has since met his idol, and actually had conversations with Jordan. MJ is aware of Barnes’ middle name, too.

“He knows,” Barnes said with a grin. “He knows.”

Draft-night miracle

Barnes falling to the Warriors changed his life both on and off the court (photo via Associated Press)

The 2012 NBA Draft was a special night for Barnes. Not only was he picked by the Warriors No. 7 overall, but his selection might have changed his life off the court as well.

Barnes met Brittany Johnson, a Bay Area native, after his freshman year at North Carolina. While walking into a local restaurant in Chapel Hill, Barnes didn’t open the door for his future wife. After doing it herself, the soon-to-be senior gave Barnes a look, and he quickly caught himself and said, “Oh, my bad. What's your name?”

“I had no idea who he was, really. He was just another guy who was really tall,” Brittany told NBC Sports California. “I heard he played a little basketball, but I wasn’t super into that. I had never gone to a game or anything.”

The chance meeting was a life-changer for Barnes. He spent the summer bringing ice cream to the house Johnson shared with roommates, just hoping to spend time with her. Eventually, they began dating.

Following his sophomore season with the Tar Heels, Barnes entered the NBA draft. Johnson, meanwhile, was graduating from North Carolina and on her way to Cal for grad school.

The young couple had determined that a long-distance relationship probably wasn’t in the cards. Then Barnes slipped to Golden State in the draft, and he and Brittany stayed together.

After a long courtship, they got married two years ago. Together, they have lived the NBA experience, which can be an adventure.

“We did really grow up together, that’s what happened,” Brittany said. “He was 19, I was 20 when we first met. We went through all the things you would go through in college, trying to figure out what you’re going to do.”

It’s been a wild ride for the Barnes. In Harrison’s third season with the Warriors, they won an NBA title.

“It was just beautiful to watch him live his dream and watch his dreams literally come true before our eyes,” Brittany said.

Being an NBA wife isn’t easy, as 41 road games per season mean a lot more than 41 nights away from your husband. Then playoffs kick in, as does summer travel with Team USA. It takes strength and sacrifice to make the lifestyle work.

“I would be lying to say there are no challenges,” Brittany said. “It’s tough sometimes when they are traveling and you want them home, but there’s something really special about somebody at 5 years old who comes home and says, ‘Mom, I’m going to make it to the NBA.’ Being able to watch them actually do it, I think that there’s a component there that is really inspiring.”

After four seasons in the Bay, Harrison signed a four-year, $95 million free-agent contract with the Dallas Mavericks. He and Brittany set up roots in Texas, where they made a tremendous impact in the community, but the life of an NBA player is filled with twists and turns.

Barnes was traded to the Kings in February 2019 in exchange for Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph. The move allowed Brittany to be closer to her family, who still lives in the Bay.

Following his abbreviated stint with the Kings, Harrison opted out of the $25 million remaining on his contract but chose to stay in Sacramento with a new four-year, $85 million deal.

NBA wives have input on certain things, but they’re also along for the ride in many instances. It can be a difficult life, but Brittany seems to have perspective on the process.

“I may have not known what I wanted to do since I was 5, but to watch my husband live his dream, like, literally, inspires me to want to live mine,” Brittany said. “Yeah, there’s challenges, but watching the person you love the most walk that journey is just a beautiful thing.”

The professional

The 27-year-old Barnes takes on a leadership role for the young Kings (photo via USA Today Sports Images)

Plenty of folks around the league winced when the Kings re-signed Barnes. There even were rumors that Divac and his staff regretted the decision shortly afterward.

That couldn’t be further from the truth. The Kings were excited to add Barnes at the 2019 trade deadline, and they were even more thrilled when he committed to the team through a good portion of his basketball prime.

Barnes’ deal is a declining scale contract that drops 8 percent in value each season. Sacramento successfully got Barnes to opt out of more than $25 million and take less money during the prime of his career.

At 27 years old, Barnes is considered the Kings’ long-term answer at small forward. One word comes up over and over when you ask anyone in Sacramento about the eight-year veteran.

“From the day he got here, he’s a professional,” Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox told NBC Sports California. “He’s not as old as Vince [Carter] or Garrett [Temple] were, but he kind of brings that same presence and even more because he’s younger, he can really play the game, he can defend, shoot the ball — he does everything at a really high level.”

Whether it’s the way he conducts an interview or his postgame body maintenance, Barnes sets a standard that very few NBA players can match. He’s also not selfish about his methods. More than that, he demands the young players around him understand what it takes to play in the league for a long time.

“He instilled that into me the second he walked in the door,” Fox said of Barnes helping him maintain his body. “It’s been great. When you’re helping yourself, you’re helping the team.”

After games, Barnes heads straight to the ice tubs. On team planes, he uses compression machines for his legs. Even his off days aren’t off days.

“What he does off the court, how he carries himself, even on a day off, he’s here at 8, 9 o’clock in the morning, still getting in work,” Fox said.

Plenty of NBA players do that, but Barnes stands out on the Kings’ roster as an incredible worker. It’s not just the players who notice the way he conducts himself. It’s everyone around the team.

“He’s got an incredible work ethic. He takes care of his body,” Kings coach Luke Walton told NBC Sports California. “He’s the ultimate professional. As good as he’s become as a player, it’s so nice to have a professional when we have so many young guys that we’re trying to groom and build their habits.”

It’s one thing to have coaches telling their young players what it takes to succeed. But having individuals such as Barnes setting expectations in the locker room, on the team plane, in the weight room and on the practice floor makes life easier for the staff.

“As a player, if I just have my coach telling me that I have to work, I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m a hard worker,’ “ Walton said. “Then I see it from a teammate, a professional, a winner, which Harrison is. Now my mindset starts to change.”

Barnes’ early experience with the Warriors and veteran Andre Iguodala helped him develop a routine. Barnes also spent two and a half seasons in Dallas with legendary big man Dirk Nowitzki, who showed him what it takes to play into your 40s.

“Each player, I try to take a little something in terms of their preparation, their process and how they go about their game,” Barnes said.

This is Walton’s second go-around with Barnes. They worked together when Walton was an assistant coach with Golden State. Both have a championship ring from that experience.

In addition to being a pro’s pro, Barnes has another quality that stands out to his coach. He’s a player who can sense what his team needs on a nightly basis, and he fills the voids.

“Harrison could go out and score 20 points every night,” Walton said. “But it’s, what does the team need tonight? Is it rebounding? Is it to knock down shots? Is it to get to the post and get some fouls? He reads that and accepts it for what’s best for the team. That’s a trait that’s so valuable to have and pretty rare, I think.”

Walton signed a four-year deal to coach the Kings over the summer. He knows how inexperienced his team is, so he was excited to see Barnes stick around to help him navigate the process.

“He’s a pleasure to coach,” Walton said. “It’s great knowing that we have him for the next four years to help with this journey we’re on.”

The Senator

One word always is used to describe Barnes: Professional. (photo via USA Today Sports Images)

On the court, Barnes usually does the right things to help his team win. Off the court, he says all the right things.

There isn’t a more professional interview in the league. Barnes listens to the questions thrown his way, digests the information, then gives a thoughtful answer.

“He’s been doing interviews for so long, I think he just gets that face and becomes Harrison Barnes,” Brittany said. “It’s so funny, because at home, he’s so playful and goofy, and no one believes me because they don’t see that side of him.”

At times, Barnes is robotic with the media, but that’s a device that some players use to make sure they don’t say something they might regret. There are moments when Barnes reminds you of a politician, which is why he has earned the nickname “The Senator.”

There is another side of Barnes, as his wife mentioned, but it’s rarely seen in public. On occasion, you can see the personality that’s mostly reserved for those closest to him.

“He’s a fun guy to be around — everybody cracks jokes,” said Fox, who has a locker next to Barnes. “He’s just a great dude. He’s going to take care of everybody. He’s a great person to be around.”

Barnes has been in front of a camera for more than half of his life. Athletes live in a fishbowl, so the less they allow the public to see, the simpler life is.

So, while fans might never see the real Harrison Barnes, there’s definitely more to him than just the points, rebounds and assists that he contributes every game.

“He’s a very playful person,” Brittany said. “He’s thoughtful, he likes to have fun, he likes to joke. He’s super active — we love the outdoors. He’s a really well-rounded guy, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my husband.”

Barnes isn’t sure what he wants to do after his NBA career is over. He likely has another decade to contemplate what life might look like in his retirement years. He mentioned getting into the venture capitalist game, and politics might be an avenue he pursues as well.

Giving back

Harrison and Brittany donate time and plenty of money in the communities in which they live. It’s a huge part of who they are, whether it’s in Oakland, Ames or Dallas.

“I think we can give a lot of credit to our parents who kind of set that standard for us individually,” Brittany said. “And because we both came from that type of background, it was kind of second nature. If you’re blessed, you want to be a blessing to someone else.”

The Barnes' have been blessed financially. Through eight seasons, Harrison will have earned over $105 million in NBA wages, with another $60 million on the books before he reaches his fourth contract in the league.

While they aren’t alone in their generosity, not every NBA player gives back like the Barnes family does.

“Getting into communities, it’s not just about giving wherever,” Brittany said. “We notice that how you’re most effective is going into the community and understanding what that specific community is facing, what are those specific challenges.”

The couple is calculated with the way they approach philanthropy, especially Harrison, who knows firsthand what kind of impact charitable contributions can mean in a community.

“He takes time to study and meet with leaders and understand, what is this community facing and how can I address that?” Brittany said.

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In June, the couple donated $53,000 to the Ames Public Library for the Harrison Barnes Reading Buddies program. They also are huge supporters of the Boys and Girls Clubs, especially during their time in Dallas.

“He grew up there, going every single day,” Brittany said. “There wasn’t one in my small little town, but it’s very special to him, and I think he has definitely made that a priority to give back.”

In addition to supporting non-profits, the couple also helped pay for the funeral of Atatiana Jefferson, who was shot and killed in her Dallas home by a police officer who later was indicted for her murder.

“He gets very involved in the community. He’s very involved with his church and what’s important to him,” Walton said. “He gets out there, and he lets his teammates see that. As a family, as a group, as a team, it’s important for these young guys to not only grow on the court but to grow off the court.”