Former Tar Heel Harrison Barnes delivers thank you message to Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings franchise will forever be grateful for the contributions of former UNC basketball player Harrison Barnes , an NBA veteran who is a perfect model of consistency, since entering the league in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Barnes began his professional career with the Golden State Warriors, winning his lone NBA championship and starting all but 61 games he appeared in with the storied franchise. He signed with the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the 2016 campaign, recording a career-best 19.2 points per game in 2019, but failing to reach the playoffs in Texas.

Sacramento was arguably Barnes’ best stop so far. He helped a young Kings team snap a 16-year playoff drought in 2022, taking his former Golden State squad to seven games in the First Round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Sacramento made the playoffs for a second-straight season last year, but failed to advance out of the Play-In tournament.

As a King, though, Barnes truly developed into one of the league’s most consistent players. He’s a borderline superstar, averaging no less than 12 points per game during any season in Sacramento. He started all 408 appearances (nine in the playoffs), giving the Kings a reliable player they could count on for consistent production.

Barnes’ time in Sacramento recently came to an end, though, as he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday evening.

On Sunday, Barnes then delivered a heartfelt thank-you message to the Kings franchise.

Barnes will join a suddenly exciting San Antonio squad that includes 2024 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, former Wake Forest standout and 12-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul, plus another former Tar Heel in 2024 NBA Draftee Harrison Ingram.

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