D-League Star Earl Barron Reflects on a Hectic 2014-15 Season
Earl Barron has not enjoyed your run of the mill NBA career. From going undrafted in 2003 to not earning his first contract until the Heat came calling in 2005, he’s still fighting to make — and stay on — an NBA roster at 34 years of age.
Since his four years at the University of Memphis, Barron has played nine NBA seasons for seven different teams. His career averages don’t jump off the page (4.6 points and 1.8 rebounds) but he’s learned that patience and having fun with people he’s met along the way have made his crazy trip worthwhile.
The 2014-15 season was particularly eventful for Barron. He went to training camp with the Phoenix Suns and was allocated to the Bakersfield Jam as an affiliate player after not making the team. “It was great, man,” Barron said when asked about that experience. “I was playing with a bunch of guys who really don’t know how to play the game yet, but Renaldo Major and I were able to show ’em the ropes and it was real fun seeing those rookies evolve over the season.”
As a veteran playing in the D-League, it’s a much different outlook than someone fresh out of college hoping to make a name for themselves. Barron even said it was a little difficult bonding with the young guns on the roster, but ultimately he found a nice niche with some of the other vets.
“I don’t play video games. I’ve always believed it’s good to bond with guys off the court and we found a way last year with Monopoly. We played one night and I won the first game and I was hooked, man. We played two or three games a day — every single night, we were playing Monopoly.”
The Monopoly Group was Earl, Renaldo Major, Jerel McNeal and Adrian Thomas. And while Barron started the season as the one to beat, a call-up of sorts flipped his winning record on its head.
Barron played so well in Bakersfield that overseas teams quickly took notice, and he signed a deal to play with Shanxi Zhongyu in China at the end of January. We’ve seen many players postpone their NBA dreams for deals in China before — the combination of being a team’s star while making good money is too good to pass up on for many. However, the same couldn’t be said for Barron. In fact, he didn’t play a single minute in the CBA after inking a deal.
“They decided they didn’t need me,” Barron said. “Right after I signed, they were playing small-ball and they went on a little hot streak, and that was that. I was over there working out a ton and both parties decided to go their separate ways and I thought I would be better off playing in Bakersfield.”
Funny how things work themselves out. Barron had been a monster all season long, emerging as one of the few players in the D-League averaging a double double — 20.3 points and 10.9 rebounds with shooting splits of 46/33/79. He signed to play in China on January 27th, returned to Bakersfield on February 18th and the Phoenix Suns called him up on February 27th.
30 days. That’s all it took for his fortune to change.
The NBA is the ultimate goal for 99 percent of the D-League players and Earl is no different. Even for someone who has made around $3 million over his career, that extra salary boost is a nice incentive. While he hasn’t signed with any NBA clubs yet, the stretch big man is hopeful to get another camp opportunity to show his worth and prove he belongs in the NBA.
If the NBA doesn’t come calling, however, Barron may have found his second career in the way of professional poker. He’s had a love for the nuances of the game ever since he was introduced to it back in Miami. His voice perked up when I asked about it.
“Back in Miami, I would go to the Seminole Hard Rock and they had sit and go tables that I started playing at. I did some research and looked up the hands, did some trial and error to find my playing style and it’s blossomed from there. I love it.”
Every summer you can find Earl playing in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. He’s been going the last couple years and he related the game back to his first love of basketball.
“Tournaments are fun, man. They’re like the NCAA tourney is the sense that there can only be one winner. You gotta be patient and play the right hands, the right way and then hope for some luck.”
While Barron seems to have found his second love in poker, he pulled no punches in letting me know his plans for next season. He’s working hard to prepare himself, chopping it up with quality players and personal trainers to get him on track. He’s focusing on improving his flexibility, all the while building a stronger core. When a team comes knocking, he assured me he’ll be ready.
Stretch bigs are at a premium in today’s NBA. Even if Barron doesn’t start the season on a roster, the D-League route could yet again help him get noticed by a club in need. With the Jam holding his D-League rights, new head coach Chris Jent would love to have a reliable big to lean on. We’ll likely see him bullying other players early in the season, but don’t be surprised if you hear Barron’s name in conjunction with an NBA roster at some point in 2015-16.
Barron’s holding some great hole cards. Now, he’s just hoping for that river card he needs to make his hand a winner.