Yesterday, new Mavs forward Harrison Barnes joined 103.3 FM ESPN’s “The Afternoon Show” with Tim Cowlishaw and Matt Mosley to talk all things Mavericks.
The guys got right to it. Listen below for the full audio, and keep reading for a transcript of some of the best moments.
On attending last week’s memorial to honor the slain police officers: The memorial service was a great way to honor those officers that serve our country and put their life on the line every single day. It was great to hear President Obama and President Bush, as well as the other police offers and political figures talk about the importance of coming together in this time when tensions are very high and people are very frustrated. It almost seems like there’s no hope left, but in those times you have to come together. It really was a special experience to be there and just support them.
On his relationship so far with head coach Rick Carlisle: He came out to Iowa and we worked out a couple days there, then came to Dallas and worked out. The thing I love about him most is he’s a straight shooter. He’s very involved. A lot of coaches, they’ll have guys that will work you out and that type of stuff, but he wants to really get involved. He wants to get on the court. He’s a huge perfectionist in terms of the details – doing footwork the right way, getting to the right spots.
On handling the pressure of potentially becoming “the guy” in Dallas: If anything, what I learned in my very first four years and winning a championship is perspective. This is a great contract, it’s a lot of money, but at the same time it’s also an investment. It’s an investment in me and the belief that the Mavericks organization has that I can come and help this team win, and develop into the player that I want to be and hopefully they believe I can be. That’s the biggest mindset, is to focus on that and to win games. At the end of the day, no matter what happens, no matter how many numbers I put up or anything like that, it’s about winning. You want to try to compete for a championship, and that’s the focus.
On his infamous IHOP lunch with proprietor Mark Cuban: Big spender, that’s what I thought. This guy is just wining and dining me at the best places in Dallas. To take me to IHOP and get me the French toast, I was like “Man, this is a one-of-a-kind guy.”
On his relationship with Dirk Nowitzki: We’ve been texting back and forth. I told him how excited I was to be there, and he expressed the same thing. He told me he’d beat me at some shooting contests. I said “Put your money where your mouth is.” I think it’s gonna be a great relationship.
It’s good to see that Barnes not only says all the right things, but he also appears to have the right kind of sense of humor to get along with Nowitzki. That relationship — and those shooting contests — will be interesting to follow this upcoming season.
“The Afternoon Show” airs weekdays from 3-6 p.m. on 103.3 FM ESPN.
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