UNC Basketball: Harrison Barnes hits outstanding game-winner

Former UNC basketball star Harrison Barnes continues his incredible resurgence, knocking down a last-second game-winner in Phoenix on Wednesday night.

Four games into the 2021-22 NBA season, folks are beginning to wonder which former Tar Heel is wearing No. 40 in Sacramento.

Harrison Barnes is 10 years into his professional career, and he’s never looked quite this good to begin a season. Sure, it’s a small sample size and maybe he’s just on a bit of a hot streak, but his play through the season’s first week has been nothing short of phenomenal.

After leading his team in scoring each of the first three games, Barnes capped off another solid performance on Wednesday night — a 22-point, nine-rebound showing — with a last-second game-winning three-point shot against the Phoenix Suns. Not only that, but he rose up and hit the shot over two-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker, who played as tough and tenacious of defense as he could on Barnes without fouling.

Apparently, he should have fouled, because this version of Harrison Barnes is not one to be trifled with. Through four games, Barnes is averaging 26.8 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 51.4 percent from the floor and 51.5 percent from three-point range. He’s also averaging 2.3 assists to just 1.8 turnovers despite playing a team-high 37.3 minutes per game.

Barnes’ performance to this point is among the most underrated in the league. After all, he ranks seventh in points per game, and is 14th in PER (Player Efficiency Rating). He’s led his Kings to a 2-2 record in the early-goings, good for a second-place standing in the Pacific Division.

Barnes and the Kings will be back on the court on Friday night when they take on the 1-4 New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Harrison Barnes, and UNC basketball alumni throughout the NBA.