Matt Barnes Signs One Year Contract With Warriors

By Bruin Basketball Report

After four seasons living on the fringe of NBA rosters, former UCLA Bruin Matt Barnes finally got his big pay day after signing a one-year $3 million contract to remain with the Golden St. Warriors.

Barnes made the team last season as a free-agent signee from preseason camp but it was his energetic play that sparked the Warriors to an upset victory over the top seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the Western conference NBA playoffs.

The athletic forward scored 16 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists in the deciding game 6 against Dallas after starting a majority of the series.

Although Barnes had anticipated more lucrative multi-year contract offers from NBA teams this summer after a sterling postseason, he was still ecstatic with the outcome and looked forward to proving himself worthy of a larger contract after next season.

"Golden State gave me an opportunity and I love the whole situation," Barnes said. "I've still got a lot to
prove. Every day I'm getting better. A one-year deal gives
me a chance to prove myself again."

Last season Barnes averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and shot 36.6% from beyond the arc, but it was the intangibles he brought onto the court that the Warriors are depending on again in the upcoming year.   

"I thought he had a great year and fit into what we were doing," Warrior coach Don Nelson said. "I thought some of his leadership qualities came out this year."