Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images It’s the first time the veteran forward has received the distinction. Harrison Barnes has been named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week, the league announced. Giannis Antetokounmpo received the distinction in the East. Barnes got the nod after averaging 22.3 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting over 60 percent from the field on the Spurs’ three wins this past week. The veteran logged a double-double during that span and committed no turnovers. Barnes, now in his 13th season as a pro, has set an NBA record for the latest into a career a player has won a Player of the Week award for the first time and is the first Spur to get that award since DeMar DeRozan in 2020, per the team’s press release. It’s safe to say no one expected Barnes to perform at this level in San Antonio. The former lottery pick had a down year in Sacramento in 2023, which prompted the Kings to attach an unprotected 2031 first-round pick swap to entice the Spurs to absorb his contract this past offseason. Barnes wasn’t posting gaudy numbers earlier in the season but brought shooting and veteran leadership to a young squad before having a fantastic week that helped the Silver and Black win three straight games. The 32-year-old forward has won a championship and an Olympic gold medal, so this distinction pales in comparison, but it’s a deserved honor for a consummate professional who waived his trade kicker to allow the Spurs to keep Julian Champagnie on the roster and took on the challenge to help a squad that didn’t come into the season with high expectations due to youth and inexperience. He accepted his role and has been rewarded for it with team success and, now, individual accolades. Barnes is averaging 11.5 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 43.9 percent from beyond the arc this season and has started every game. He’s under contract for one more year with the Spurs.