Leandro Barbosa came to the Golden State Warriors without a clear role. Knowing he would come off the bench, the veteran knew he could help this team get over the hump. Luckily so, he pitched in throughout the NBA season and did his part in the NBA Finals. He even found himself guarding LeBron James on a few possessions.
-== 8 Moves That Paved Way for Warriors’ NBA Title ==-
In light of the high contracts being handed, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN has reported Barbosa signing a realistic $2.5 million dollar deal to return to the champions:
Leandro Barbosa will return to the Warriors on a 1-year, $2.5 million deal
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 6, 2015
He’s had the utmost confidence in the Warriors. After beating the Utah Jazz on March 21, Barbosa told Rosalyn Gold-Onwude in a post game interview that they would be champions. His prediction was spot-on as the Dubs claimed their first title in 40 years.
Last season, he averaged 7,1 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.4 rebounds in about 15 minutes per game. Although he’s slowed, the Brazilian Blur contributed when it mattered the most. In Game 5, he pitched in 13 points off 4-5 shooting in only 17 minutes. Last season, the Warriors paid Klay Thompson, and this year they’ve been busy bringing back their roster. Add Barbosa to the list which contains Marreese Speights and Draymond Green.
Have they given up on Justin Holiday?