G League player Barlow shows his potential
By Tom Orsborn
INDIANAPOLIS — Spurs coach Gregg Popovich wants his players to understand how fortunate they are to earn a great living playing basketball.
“You are making a gazillion dollars a year,” he said before a recent game. “You travel on private planes. You stay for free at great hotels. It’s the easiest job in the world.”
Forward/center Dominick Barlow understood that long before the Spurs re-signed him to a two-way contract last July. He wakes up every day grateful to go to work doing something he loves.
“If you don’t have a purpose and a passion for something and aren’t giving your all, you are just wasting your time,” he said. “So many people, especially young people, are searching for what they want to do in life and it takes a long time for a lot of different people to find that. I was fortunate to find what I wanted to do at a young age and I try to take full advantage understanding I have a gift and a blessing.
“I don’t want to waste it.” Barlow’s passion for the sport was on display as he put together a strong effort competing in the G League Up Next mini-tournament Sunday at the Indiana Convention Center.
The 20-year-old native of Hackensack, N.J., finished with seven points on 3-for-4 shooting from the field and a rebound for Team Strictly in a three-point loss to Team EYL in a game that had a target score of 30.
His best moments including recording a coast-to-coast layup and drilling a 3-pointer from the corner. While some players looked like they were going through the motions defensively, Barlow also showed up on that end as well.
“It was fun, a cool atmosphere,” he said.
Team Strictly’s roster included Iowa Wolves forward Luka Garza, Indiana Mad Ants guard Isaiah Wong, Sioux Falls Skyforce forward Cole Swider, Delaware Blue Coats forward Darius Bazley and G League Ignite forwards Tyler Smith and Thierry Darlan.
Team EYL was made up of Mexico City Capitanes guard Ethan Thompson, Rip City Remix guard Ashton Hagans, Indiana Mad Ants forward Oscar Tshiebwe, Sioux Falls Skyforce guard Alondes Williams, Osceola Magic guard Trevelin Queen and G League Ignite guard Dink Pate and Ignite forward Babacar Sane.
The Spurs signed Barlow as
an undrafted free agent in summer 2022 after he spent a season with Overtime Elite, a basketball league for 16- to 20-yearold prospects in Atlanta. After logging some impressive minutes late last season for the 22-60 Spurs, the club gave him another two-way deal last summer.
A two-way contract allows players to suit up for both an NBA team and that team’s G League affiliate, which for the Spurs is in Austin. Two-way players are eligible to be active for up to 50 of their
NBA team’s 82 games.
A second-year pro, Barlow entered the Allstar break averaging 4.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 23 games for the Spurs. He shot 47.6% (40 for 84) from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range (3 for 7) in that span while averaging 13.3 minutes.
“He’s really versatile, especially defensively, where he can get out and switch and move his feet and play on the perimeter,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said after Sunday’s game. “But he can also play inside and rebound and contest shots. There are not a lot of guys like that. He’s obviously, young and still developing but doing a great job. Offensively, he’s made real strides with his touch around the basket and improving his range on the jump shot. “We are happy with how he is continuing to grow.”
Barlow flew back home to New Jersey after the game to spend time with his mother and other family members before the Spurs return to action Thursday at Sacramento.
With 27 games left in the regular season, he said he hopes to make the most of it.
“My goal is to play hard, get better and get some wins,” he said.