At 31, Will Barton is about to start a new challenge on the side of Washington, where he arrives from Denver accompanied by Monte Morris.
Both players are familiar with their new head coach, Wes Unseld Jr, who assisted the Nuggets from 2015-2021, which should make it easier for them to join the Wizards. They also know that the technician will advocate the importance of the collective before the rest, a clear objective of progression for Washington (13th in the league in the number of assists on average in 2021/22) in which everyone will have a role to play. .
“I have been around him for so long, he has trained me for so long, that I already know that this will be his identity”, said Will Barton during his presentation press conference, he who intends to play the game to improve the game of the Wizards.
Daniel Gafford, a potential finisher to exploit
Behind Nikola Jokic, Monte Morris and Will Barton were the two best passers on their team last season with Denver (4.4 and 3.9 assists per game), and the full-back/winger intends to show this side of his game within his new team.
“I just know that the player who is open is the best option. We need easier shots, 3-point shots and popping balls. I feel like when the ball comes out and moves, it’s more fun to play that style of basketball. I hope I can help bring that,” he added.
Among the players who will represent “priority targets” for him, Will Barton first cited Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma, for their ability to shoot. He then put forward another finisher that he intends to feed: Daniel Gafford, an explosive and rather valuable pivot near the circle.
“Big Gaff, I want to be on the pitch with him”he slipped. “I’m a guy who likes to go for the circle, and when I do, if I can’t score on my own, I can put in a lob and I know he’s a guy who can go for it. So he’s a guy I can’t wait to play with.”
| Will Barton | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | BY | 73 | 12 | 38.2 | 13.8 | 76.9 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 4.0 |
| 2013-14 | BY | 41 | 9 | 41.7 | 30.3 | 81.3 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 4.1 |
| 2014-15 * | All Teams | 58 | 17 | 42.5 | 27.1 | 78.7 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 6.8 |
| 2014-15 * | BY | 30 | 10 | 38.0 | 22.2 | 66.7 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 3.0 |
| 2014-15 * | THE | 28 | 24 | 44.3 | 28.4 | 81.0 | 0.8 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 11.0 |
| 2015-16 | THE | 82 | 29 | 43.2 | 34.5 | 80.6 | 0.7 | 5.1 | 5.8 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 14.4 |
| 2016-17 | THE | 60 | 28 | 44.3 | 37.0 | 75.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 13.7 |
| 2017-18 | THE | 81 | 33 | 45.2 | 37.0 | 80.5 | 0.9 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 15.7 |
| 2018-19 | THE | 43 | 28 | 40.2 | 34.2 | 77.0 | 0.7 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 11.5 |
| 2019-20 | THE | 58 | 33 | 45.0 | 37.5 | 76.7 | 1.3 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 15.1 |
| 2020-21 | THE | 56 | 31 | 42.6 | 38.1 | 78.5 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 12.7 |
| 2021-22 | THE | 71 | 32 | 43.8 | 36.5 | 80.3 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 14.7 |
| Total | 623 | 26 | 43.3 | 35.4 | 78.7 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 11.6 | |