As Keldon Johnson looks to right the ship, San Antonio Spurs teammate Harrison Barnes must be viewed as an ally in the process. Barnes has a unique perspective on what it's like to go from a heralded young wing to a mainstay on the rumor mill with a steady decrease in playing time.
If Johnson is looking to secure a future with the Spurs, perhaps Barnes can point him in the right direction and save him from a career arc he's hoping to avoid.
Johnson began his career on a high note, impressing within a limited sample size in 2019-20 and winning a gold medal with Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He steadily improved from there, averaging 17.0 points on 39.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 2021-22.
Johnson's jump shot took a hit in 2022-23, but he still managed to average 22.0 points per game and inspire faith in his potential.
Unfortunately, Johnson's playing time decreased from 32.7 minutes per game in 2022-23 to 29.5 in 2023-24, and reached a shocking low of 23.9 in 2024-25. He shot just 31.8 percent from beyond the arc this past season, thus setting a new career low.
With speculation running rampant that the 25-year-old forward could soon be traded, Johnson must learn from Barnes' own journey to career stability.
Harrison Barnes can offer invaluable perspective to Keldon Johnson
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Barnes was selected at No. 7 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft after playing two seasons with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Barnes won an Olympic gold medal himself in 2016, as well as a championship in the Association with the Golden State Warriors.
Unfortunately, after Barnes' jump shot turned ice cold during the 2016 NBA Finals, the Warriors parted ways with their former top-10 pick.
Barnes went on to spend two-and-a-half seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, unfortunately failing to return to the playoffs. It was a mid-year trade in 2018-19, however, that permitted the veteran to rewrite his career narrative.
Barnes spent the next five-and-a-half seasons with the Sacramento Kings, solidifying his jump shot and helping the franchise end a 17-year postseason drought.
Barnes' evolution into a sharpshooting wing who could be trusted for well-rounded production was quietly captivating. He finished his Kings tenure averaging 14.7 points and 1.7 three-point field goals made per game on .472/.387/.824 shooting, and he's already elevated his efficiency with the Spurs.
In 2024-25, Barnes averaged 12.3 points and 1.9 three-point field goals made per game on a slash line of .508/.433/.809—and inevitably consumed many of Johnson's minutes.
In 2025-26, Johnson must follow Barnes' lead and prove that he can be a malleable player whom head coach Mitch Johnson can plug into various roles. [Improving his jump shot](https://airalamo.com/keldon-johnson-spurs-future-hinges-career-defining-question) will be an essential step in the right direction, particularly on a Spurs team with a backcourt consisting of non-shooters.
Thankfully, Johnson could find the perfect mentor if he turns to his teammate for guidance as he looks to put an end to his career instability and return to a reliable place in the rotation.