Harrison Barnes is the latest player to speak out against the idea of participating in meaningless games. Appearing on The Full 48 podcast with Howard Beck (hat tip to Sabreena Merchant of Sactown Royalty), the Kings forward echoed comments made this week by Portland’s Damian Lillard.
“I think Dame is right,” Barnes said. “If you come back and play, you want to be playing for something.”
The Kings and Trail Blazers would both be part of a 22-team scenario that is reportedly gaining support throughout the league. That proposal is believed to include a few regular season games, followed by a play-in format for the postseason. Both teams are on the edge of the Western Conference playoff race, lurking three and a half games behind the eighth-place Grizzlies.
Barnes notes on the podcast that Sacramento has been dealing with injuries all season and was just starting to put things together before the hiatus.
“This group, where we’re at, we need to play, we need to play together, and playing for something is important,” he said.
Barnes also told Beck that he wants to be part of the group in Orlando because of his competitive instincts, but doesn’t see the point of participating if there’s nothing to be gained. He stated that any playoff proposal will have critics, adding, “the idea of fairness — that’s out the window.”
If using play in Tournament, both team can knock out Memphis and make the playoffs
Otherwise it’s meaningless for both teams
“We were not good enough after 60+ games to get into the playoffs so please rig it so we get a playoff spot we don’t deserve”
“it’s not worth risking our health if we aren’t playing for a championship. Why risk getting injured or sick when we haven’t been playing or even training since the shutdown”
Because they are getting paid millions of dollars to do just that. If they haven’t been training, whose fault is that? Most of these guys have home gyms and courts.
Are you okay with players walking away in the middle of any other season? I mean if your team is guaranteed to be lottery bound after 40 games, is it okay to just give up and go home?
I don’t technically agree with players just saying ” I don’t want to play unless we have a shot at a title” but in this particular instance, I can understand not wanting to risk their health and life as well as their families unless the potential reward is a bit bigger than normal as well.
I do see where it can make them look extremely selfish. But if they don’t want to play, then their salaries should be withheld also. It’s only fair.
I think there will be reduced rosters all over the NBA (that is allowed to compete), once individuals find safety reasons to not show.
Barnes has nothing to play for but money
He has a ring and 73 wins as a starter. Michael Jordan does not have both
really?!?!?
Sullivan, who are you? Doesn’t Jordan have like 72 wins? And SIX RINGS? I’m not understanding your point?
What do you mean “as a starter?” Michael Jordan came off the bench?
Sorry. voice to text, Sillivan. Apologies.
He’s saying that Barnes has both of those things while Jordan only has one of those things but it’s still dumb lol
GS would have won 73 games that year with just about anyone starting at SF. Barnes was not the catalyst.
Jordan has a SEVENTY-TWO win season and a ring in the same season… Barnes doesn’t.
The only people want games are Lakers,Clippers, Bucks, and fans of a few other teams. Start the playoffs with both conferences top 4 seeds. More than likely no one else winning. Quicker the playoffs end the quicker the off season and draft begins.
@mlbnyfan
Who cares about off season & draft? Hoops is about the season, draft, summer leagues… all of that is gimmicks & dross, utterly unimportant if you ask me, just a way to allocate players, not the be & all of it!
Thats actually not the worst idea, sure Indy Philly Hou Dal Okc get shafted but I think the public is perfectly Ok with that in the end and the product would be amazing IF…..
They could get into game shape somehow by then. Which is a huge obstacle, you need games, highly competitive games to jump into playoff basketball-
I think they need the 10 game reg season in order to play (real) playoff basketball that we all want to see- I dont see any other way around that.
Youd have
LAL vs Utah- We can hope we get LA vs LA
Clip vs Den- ” ”
Bucks vs Mia- Nice series
Tor vs Bos- Nice series
Barnes plays for the Kings. His games didn’t matter in December.
Happy b day Harrison!!
Barnes needs to go to another team if he wants to play meaningful games because he won’t be with his current club. Let me guess thou he still wants that check?
If Barnes wanted to play in meaningful games he should of stayed with the Warriors. He got one title and instead of wanting more he decided to get more money. Hard choice for players. Do you chase playing for championships take less money or do you care more about the money and possibly play meaningless games.
Barnes has been an enormous waste of talent from at least UNC on. IDK about Iowa HS BB, but he has been a competitive zero since. For years I have bemoaned how GM Divac has treasured Harrison more than Iman Shumpert, who does have emotional resonance. Divac replaced Shumpert then overpaid Barnes. Sacto has not been as good since, despite their spending.
The reason Harrison can’t get going is because he never can get going, period.
Amen bro!
I have no problem with these guys wanting to not play IF they are willing to forfeit their remaining salaries in this and future seasons. If I owned the a team and I see someone not wanting to be part of the team, that’s fine. He can retire and forfeit his remaining contract. Otherwise, these guys need to get back to work.
Amen bro!
Look I am sick & tired of these guys (Dame, Barnes…) you sucked all season, or your teams did, you DO NOT DESERVE to be in playoff contention because you were sooo bad, I would like you to play games, because this is your job, you paid millions for it, but I would hate if this year you make it to the playoffs, it wouldn’t be fair to the teams that deserve it & worked hard & well all year to be there! You sound entitled & obnoxious with these type of comments!
Amen Bro!!
So friggin weird hearing anything come out on a 10 seeds mouth-
Can you imagine if this happened in 1995….. You would have all the stars on winning clubs taking shots at you daily….
I had hoped all 3o teams could kick in another 10-12 games in the regular season but I think those days are gone- Leave these guys home and split the playoff pot more tilted for the guys coming back
Have a play in tournament of like 4 teams Griz Pelicans Blazers and Kings cause I feel like the rest of the playoff teams have definitely earnt their spots and I think teams in the east all won’t want to play teams in the west in a first round style tournament
Breaking news!
Basketball never matters.
It will work out. Forget the nay sayers D and B✌