Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton began his media Zoom call from the NBA’s Orlando bubble with some somber words about the passing of civil rights icon John Lewis.
When he finished his thoughts on Lewis, Walton shifted back to basketball and even had a lighthearted moment with regards to the two or three days of growth he was showing on his normally clean shaved face.
“I’m trying to get some energy going,” Walton said with a smile. “Until Harrison Barnes shows up in Orlando, I’m not going to shave.”
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Was Walton serious? Will he continue to go without a razor until his starting small forward arrives in the bubble?
It would be a solid move by Walton. In mid-December and with the Kings sporting a 12-14 record, Barnes pledged to not shave until the team reached the .500 mark.
The vow backfired on Barnes and at last we saw, he was about halfway to James Harden with his facial hair.
Barnes has changed the parameters of the promise, adding in that it’s either .500 or playoffs. When the season was put on hiatus, the Kings had a record of 28-36. They would need a perfect 8-0 run to get back to even, but they currently sit in a three-way tie for ninth place in the Western Conference standings with the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers.
NBA
Sacramento has a shot to make it to the play-in game with a chance to steal away a playoff spot, but they’ll likely need Barnes healthy and ready to play if they are going to shock the oddsmakers.
Barnes is currently in the NBA’s protocol in Sacramento after testing positive for the coronavirus during the Fourth of July weekend. Due to HIPAA rules, the team has not given much of an update on their starting small forward.
“Nothing’s changed -- Harrison is still back in Sacramento going through protocol,” Walton said on Sunday.
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Sacramento plans to hold a roster spot open for Barnes with the hopes that he can join the Kings at some point. Barnes is averaging 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and shooting 38.3 percent from 3-point range in 34.9 minutes per game this season.
It should be noted that Luke's father, legendary big man Bill Walton, had one of the most fierce beards in the NBA during the 1970s. Like father, like son?