‘Wide-eyed’ Harrison Barnes is soaking in the entire experience ahead of NBA Africa Game

In the build-up to Saturday’s NBA Africa Game in Johannesburg, Mavs forward Harrison Barnes has turned his trip to South Africa into much more than just an appearance for a basketball game. He and his family, including his wife, mother, and in-laws, have taken in the sights, sounds, and history of the country.

“I am just kind of wide-eyed trying to learn as much as I can,” Barnes told KweséESPN in Johannesburg this week.

Barnes will play for Team World in the third annual NBA Africa Game and will be the third Maverick to play in the game, following in the footsteps of Dirk Nowitzki (Team World) and Salah Mejri (Team Africa). In the meantime, he’s spent his week in Joburg participating in the Basketball Without Borders camp and Hoops 4 Hope program. The players also helped to build 10 homes with Habitat for Humanity and made a donation to the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

#NBAAfricaGame@hbarnes pays tribute at the Nelson Mandela house on Vilakazi street in Soweto. pic.twitter.com/058SNujIeQ

— NBA (@NBA) August 3, 2018

“I’ve been very fortunate throughout my life with a number of opportunities, a number of great people that have helped me be in the position that I am today to be an NBA basketball player and to be living out my dream,” Barnes told KweséESPN.

“We were kids with goals and dreams, and we got there through a lot of hard work, but we also got there through a lot of people helping us get to that point and some lucky breaks in there. What we want to try to do and what I try to do is just let these kids know that, look, I’m a resource, I’m here to try to help. I want you guys to be the most successful versions, the best versions of yourselves that you can be, and anything I can do, I’ll try to help.”

Click the link to read more about Barnes and his experience in South Africa. The NBA Africa Game tips off at 10 a.m. CT and can be viewed on Kwesé Free Sports (Sub-Saharan Africa), ESPN 2 (US), ESPN Deportes (US), ESPN (Latin America, Brazil, Caribbean, and the Pac Rim). For more info on the game, rosters, and schedule, click here.