Tag: leandro barbosa

The Golden State Warriors re-signing of unrestricted free agent guard Leandro Barbosa became official today.

Barbosa, 32, appeared in 66 regular-season games (one start) during his first season with Golden State in 2014-15, averaging 7.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 14.9 minutes per contest. He scored in double figures 20 times, including a season-high 19 points in 28 minutes versus Utah on March 21, 2015. The 6’3” guard appeared in all 21 postseason games during Golden State’s NBA Championship run, averaging 5.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.9 minutes.

A 12-year NBA veteran, Barbosa owns career averages of 11.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 715 regular-season games with Phoenix, Toronto, Indiana, Boston and Golden State. The Sao Paulo, Brazil, native has appeared in 96 postseason games, averaging 8.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

The Golden State Warriors won 67 games last regular season and went on to win the 2015 NBA championship. Although guard Leandro Barbosa had a limited role on the team, he was part of a winning squad that clearly had nice chemistry beyond their stars, and it’s good news that he’ll be back for 2015-16. Here’s CSN Bay Area reporting:

Barbosa was a semi-polarizing figure insofar as the team’s front office was divided on his value to the team. The divide was not strident, but it definitely was there. It was easy to see why. The veteran guard was by turns exasperating and electrifying.

Kerr defended Barbosa at every turn. So did Barbosa’s teammates. They loved “LB” as a role model for putting in the extra work, for injecting humor and for his featured role in generating esprit de corps.

That is largely why the Warriors and Barbosa, who is an unrestricted free agent, will reunite next season. General manager Bob Myers issued a statement affirming the team’s intention, which can’t become official before Thursday, at the conclusion of the league’s moratorium period.

Barbosa agreed Monday to play his 13th season on a one-year contract worth a reported $2.5 million.