Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Harrison Barnes’ four-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors was solid, but nothing to brag about. Overshadowed by all-star teammates Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, Barnes had little room to shine. His decision to sign with the Dallas Mavericks on a four-year-deal worth $94 million in the summer of 2016, was financially intelligent to go with beneficial as a player.

The Dallas Mavericks were an above average team in 2015-16, maintaining a 42-40 record finishing 6th in the Western Conference. Sure, Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas to another successful season, but how much further could an aging 38-year-old lead his team? They needed another scorer to become the primary option on offensive—that man is Harrison Barnes. Considering Barnes averaged just 10.1 points per game in the four years with Golden State, Dallas took a gamble with the one-time NBA champion paying him $23.5 million annually.

Barnes has a completely new role with the Dallas Mavericks. Instead of being a third, even fourth scoring option with Golden State, he is now a first or second option with Dallas. To start the season, Barnes recorded over 30 points in three of the first seven games, including a career-high 34 points against Milwaukee on November 6, 2016. During the four years in Golden State, he recorded 30-or-more points just once.

“He’s playing terrific,” Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle said before Barnes scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Wednesday night’s game.

“The thing that I love most about him from a coaching standpoint, he’s everything you want in a foundation for a franchise. He lives in the gym. He wants to be really, really good. He studies the game, takes care of himself.”

 

If Barnes continues this high-level play for Dallas, he could become the NBA’s Most Improved Player for 2016-17. He used to do a little bit of everything for Golden State; now he’s scoring, rebounding, and creating plays for the 2-6 Dallas Mavericks.