Will Barton wanted to be back in Denver, he just couldn’t say it.
That was back on July 11, when Barton spoke to reporters as part of his appearance at the celebrity softball game at Coors Field during All-Star weekend. That was several weeks before re-signing with the Nuggets on a 2-year, $32 million deal. As free agency approached, it made no sense for him to say he wanted back.
“I always knew the interest was mutual,” he said Wednesday at his first news conference since reaching a new deal. “We’ve been together for a long time, so I didn’t think it’d be any funny business.”
In fact, Barton called it a “simple decision.”
Before Jamal Murray tore his ACL in April, Barton shared the confidence of the entire organization. The players, coaching staff and front office believed that if healthy, the Nuggets were championship contenders. So why not return, Barton thought.
Throughout the process Barton maintained contact with Murray, fellow free-agent JaMychal Green, Monte Morris, Michael Porter Jr. and P.J. Dozier, he said. Conversations revolved around what it would look like if he returned.
“All the guys wanted me back,” said Barton, the longest-tenured Nuggets player. “They knew I wanted to be back.”
“Once I found out he was coming back, it definitely put a smile on my face,” said Green. “… He’s a big part of the puzzle. He’s really the x-factor. Once he gets going, he can really make the game a lot easier for the team.”
Since joining the Nuggets during the 2014-’15 season, he’s seen them morph from a rudderless franchise to one that’s consistently battling for homecourt advantage in the Western Conference around reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. Barton has become a pillar of the locker room, empowering Jokic, embracing Murray and growing with coach Michael Malone.
“It’s just a part of my DNA and my character,” Barton said when asked about overseeing the transformation. “Anytime I start something and I’m there from the beginning, if I can, if the relationships are still good, … I always want to see that through, especially when you have the potential to do something special, to do something great.”
Barton’s offseason has been far more productive than either of the past two summers, which coincided with the unprecedented schedule crunch wrought by the pandemic. Now healthy after a hamstring injury limited him in the postseason, Barton said he’s been able to lift, work on his conditioning, play pick-up and “actually get better.”
Barton’s 2019-’20 season ended prematurely when he left the pandemic “Bubble” early due to a nagging leg injury. He played in three of Denver’s 10 postseason games this past playoff run.
“That’s my ultimate drive now,” he said. “I did a lot in my NBA career. I’ve overcame so many obstacles, coming from a second-round pick to not playing … I feel like the only thing I haven’t done is performed at a high level in the playoffs, and that’s been because of basically, either injuries or not being available.”
The opportunity to compete for a championship – and play a significant role in chasing one – was ultimately what brought him back. Following Denver’s second-round ouster to the Suns, Barton told the media he wanted to “be appreciated” when considering his future. Given all that Barton has meant to Denver’s rise, the former second-round pick who climbed from reserve to sixth man to starter had made his case over the prior six-plus seasons.
“I didn’t have to have a lot of discussion with them about (role),” he said. “Me and coach Malone, we both know what’s up. Tim knows what’s up, and the players do.”
Nuggets’ Will Barton on free agency decision: “They knew I wanted to be back” - The Denver Post
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment