The Spurs’ Harrison Barnes was named Western Conference Player of the Week

Harrison Barnes has been named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week, the league announced. Giannis Antetokounmpo received the award in the East.

Barnes got the nod after averaging 22.3 points and 8.7 rebounds and shooting over 60 percent from the field in the Spurs’ three wins last week. The veteran recorded a double-double during this period and committed no turnovers.

Barnes, now in his 13th season as a professional, has set an NBA record by a player winning Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career and is the first Spur to win the award since DeMar DeRozan in the Year 2020 receives , according to the team’s press release.

It’s safe to say no one expected Barnes to perform at this level in San Antonio. The former lottery pick had a down year in Sacramento in 2023, leading the Kings to execute an unprotected 2031 first-round pick swap to entice the Spurs to take on his contract last offseason. Barnes didn’t put up outrageous numbers at the start of the season, but brought forward a young team with shooting skills and experienced leadership before having a fantastic week that helped the Silver and Black win three games in a row.

The 32-year-old forward has won a championship and an Olympic gold medal, so this award pales in comparison, but it is a well-deserved honor for a consummate professional who gave up his trade kicker to allow the Spurs to keep Julian Champagnie on the roster and accepted the challenge of helping a team that did not start the season with high expectations due to its youth and inexperience. He accepted his role and was rewarded with team successes and now individual awards.

Barnes is averaging 11.5 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 43.9 percent from distance this season and has started every game. He is under contract with Spurs for another year.