CHICAGO _ Matt Barnes was in Los Angeles at his kid's basketball practice on Tuesday night when he got a text from his friend Willie Green, a first-year assistant coach with the Warriors, letting him know that Kevin Durant was injured and the team was interested. Steve Kerr called two hours later.
"Excitement," Barnes said. "Tremendously humbled. This is the team that everyone talks about."
Two days later, Barnes was in Chicago, finalizing his contract with the Warriors (which runs through the rest of the season) and _ in his familiar No. 22 jersey _ joining shootaround with the expectation that he will begin his second tenure with the franchise against the Bulls on Thursday night.
Barnes has been on nine teams during his 14-year journeyman career. But he considers his two seasons in Golden State _ from 2006-08 _ among his most memorable, cherished stops. Barnes was a solid piece on those 'We Believe' Warriors teams, which broke a 12-year playoff drought for the franchise and upset the top-seeded Mavericks in the first round.
After agreeing to a deal with the Warriors, Barnes posted an Instagram throwback photo of himself, Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson wearing Warriors jerseys from back in the day. Then a few minutes later, he posted an emotional text message conversation with Jackson congratulating him on his return.
"Baron sent me a text," Barnes said. "Me and Jack talked at length. He said he teared up. This has always been a special place for us. This was the last place my Mom saw me play before she died of cancer in that 2008 season. So a lot of special memories and relationships I built here. It's just great to be back."
But Barnes returns to an entirely different organization with new ownership, new coaches, new teammates, a championship level reputation and an environment far different than the one he experienced a decade ago or the one he just left in Sacramento.
"We were going through stuff and I asked Shaun (Livingston): 'Is it this easy and laid-back?' " Barnes said. "He like: 'It's the perks of winning.' "
Barnes has latched onto the Warriors in that 15th roster spot. But he doesn't arrive as the 15th man in the rotational pecking order. Because of Durant's injury, there is an immediate need for minutes on the wing. Barnes is expected to step into a role, at 36 years old, chasing the first NBA title of his career.
"It's a tremendous honor to be part of something like this," Barnes said. "They've created a culture here that's second to none."
