"The gravity": Harrison Barnes highlights Victor Wembanyama and Steph Curry's similarities, chemistry with Chris Paul, and more (EXCLUSIVE)

Hours before helping the San Antonio Spurs with steady leadership and production, Harrison Barnes displayed what has made him such a seamless fit.

He takes his pre-game preparation seriously. By his locker, Barnes wears air compression equipment around his legs to enhance their recovery and strength. He timed it perfectly so that he still had time to attend chapel.

“He’s been as professional as you can want,” Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson said. “First one in the building, attention to detail and discipline that he shows in terms of his preparation and also after games, days off and what not. And then he’s played really well for us on the court. His performance speaks for itself. We’ve been lucky to be the benefactor of that.”

The Spurs acquired Barnes from the Sacramento Kings last summer as part of a three-team trade for fairly obvious reasons. He brings championship credibility as part of the Golden State Warriors’ NBA title team in 2015. He brings a proven track record as a dependable scorer and a defender.

The Spurs (19-19) enter Wednesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies (25-15) as a possible playoff contender for reasons beyond Victor Wembanyama’s transcendent talent and Chris Paul’s Hall-of-Fame resume. Barnes has averaged 11.2 points while shooting 48.3% from the field and 40.9% from deep and has complemented Paul’s mentorship presence.

“They get us on the same page,” Spurs fourth-year forward Julian Champagne said. “They pull us along with this basketball stuff and help us grow up a little faster.”

Barnes spoke to Sportskeeda about his chemistry with Wembanyama, the dynamic with Paul and his respect for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

Editor’s note: The following one-on-one interview has been edited and condensed.

Why do you think it’s been a good fit so far?

Barnes: “I think it’s the character of the guys. I think from a team personnel standpoint, everyone is easy to play with and easy to get along with off the floor. The coaching staff has been great. Front office and ownership have been great. That’s made for a seamless fit on my end.”

How have you exerted your veteran and championship experience to the team so far?

Barnes: “I think the biggest thing is that everyone wants to win. That’s where it starts. I’ve seen in the last couple of years that it’s been difficult. But everyone was motivated to change that narrative and that mindset. Guys are hungry to win and hungry to establish themselves in the league and build out their careers. It’s great.”

I’ve seen you say after various games that the next step for this group is to learn how to finish in close games. What’s the key to that?

Barnes: “The biggest thing for that is some of it is experience. You have to go through that. You have to be in those situations. A lot of times we’ve been up in a lot of these games, and teams have come back. Usually with a young team, it’s the opposite way around. You’re down by 10 or 15 [points], and then you make these miraculous comebacks. I think for us, it’s about continuing to value the possession and learning how to play with a lead.”

You mentioned the chemistry with the whole team. Unsurprisingly, the two-man lineup data shows you have some of the best chemistry with Wemby. Beyond talent, what has been the key to formulating that strong bond?

Barnes: “I think what’s unique about him is for a young player who draws as much attention as he does and has a skillset that he has, he’s a willing passer. A lot of time, guys that are young in the league are just focused on scoring and trying to play through double teams. Obviously, Victor sees a double team every night. He sees a double team in the pick-and-roll. He sees a double team in the post. He sees all types of wild coverages thrown at him. But I think the thing with him is he’s a willing passer.

So I think for me, obviously Steph is probably the closest person I’ve seen in terms of being able to tilt a defense as much as he does. I’ve had experience with learning how to play off the ball, learning how to make the game easier, giving him outlets, things like that. So I think that’s where the chemistry started. And obviously we get along really well off the floor.”

Knowing there’s a distinguishable difference between Steph and Wemby by position, what are the similarities and differences between how you tried to play off the ball with Steph and off the ball with Wemby?

Barnes: “Honestly, it’s the gravity that they have. Vic handles a lot in pick-and-rolls. We screen for him in a lot of pick-and-rolls, which is unique, right? Most teams don’t put a center on him. For the teams that have, he’s probably averaging 40-plus. There’s a lot of different combinations that happen. But I think just his gravity, whether he’s rolling or running down the floor where he’s spotting up in the corner, a defense will shift more toward him.

That creates more opportunities for us. But as a group, we’re trying to figure out better ways to maximize him and let him be more efficient. So it’s a good problem to have. There’s a respect level that other teams and defensive coaches have for him. I think with that, it’s just a matter of him just continuing to go through that process. Last year was a different experience for him. It’s his first year, and everything is new. This year, everything is being done a different way in terms of more attention and different coverages.”

What’s it been like teaming up with CP after battling against him your whole career?

Barnes: “It’s great. I definitely enjoy being on his side in close games. I’ve lost a number of close games to him in the past. He’s another guy that just makes the game so easy. There are a lot of things on the court where it’s just non-verbal communication. We’re reading and playing from there. So he’s been great.”

It's funny this has happened all of these years later. I went to his camp when I was a kid. It’s crazy now seeing his son, who’s in high school. I’m seeing this full-circle moment. It’s been rewarding, for sure. We have had 15-plus years of memories. One, he was a professional and I’m an amateur. Then both of us are pros and competing against each other. Now with being teammates, it’s been full circle.”

What’s the dynamic like with him so far in terms of sharing vet roles?

Barnes: “What’s funny is I still learn stuff from him all the time. Although we both came in here with more years than the rest of the team, not to put his age out there, but CP is eight years older than me. You know what I mean? So there’s still that dynamic where I want to talk to him and ask him about a lot of things. Obviously, it’s cool when Tim [Duncan], Tony [Parker] and Manu [Ginóbili] are around. He played against them longer. But I played against those guys, too. It’s a funny dynamic that we have.”

What have you learned from the alums?

Barnes: “I think just talking to them about their experience. There was obviously the experience that I had playing against the Spurs and watching them for a number of years and just hearing what they went through, how they got there and how they maintained that level of consistency. How they maintained that level isn’t talked about enough. People always talk about them once they got there. But it was also them being there year after year after year. They won five championships. But there’s also the 15 years of 50-win-plus seasons and getting to the Western Conference Finals. There are a lot of gems in that process.”

What has Pop meant to you as an opponent and during your brief time playing for him?

Barnes: “I just have the utmost respect. In my interactions with him, whether it’s competing against him, coaching me on the World Cup team or coaching me at the beginning of the season here, I have the utmost respect. He’s been through it. He’s about all of the right things. He gives to his team and to the players. He doesn’t talk to everyone the same. He talks to you specifically as you need it. I think that’s huge.”

How have you seen Mitch navigate handling the interim role?

Barnes: “I think Mitch has done a really good job. It’s not an easy situation trying to fill those shoes, especially on the fly and with the conditions that it was. But I think he’s done a great job at holding it high. He’s kept things going and kept things at the level that they were at. He’s reassured everybody with what’s going on not just with Pop’s health condition, but with the team on how to go forward. I’m sure he talks to Pop all the time, and I’m sure he’d proud of the process that he’s done.”

To what extent does the way your time in Sacramento ended last summer fuel motivation for you this season?

Barnes: “I don’t think it’s about that. If anything, I look at my time when I first got there and where the organization was. Obviously, there were a lot of ups and downs on the way there. But to leave the last two years on a winning record and making the playoffs, this happens. Obviously, it’s been an up an down season for them as well. But I think you can only control what you can control. I feel like I gave my best to the city and to the organization. And now I give my best here.”

Mark Medina is an NBA insider for Sportskeeda. Follow him on X, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.