You would think after playing in your second straight NBA Finals into late June and signing on with a new team during NBA Free Agency would be a convenient excuse to give yourself a break; but Harrison Barnes doesn’t often take the most convention path. He is set to play for Team USA Basketball later this month in the Rio Olympics after a heavy work load the past two years playing on the record-breaking Golden State Warriors.
Aside from his ambitions on the court, Barnes also has some pretty lofty goals off the court as well. Despite already making over $12 million in his NBA career to date and $94 million more on the way, he decided to intern at Facebook two years ago and has a keen eye on technology and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Technology has also aided his fast-tracked basketball career that has seen him become an NBA champion and Olympian, all at the age of 24.
We were able to talk w Harrison about how technology helps him with his game on the court and fuels additional career aspirations beyond the hardwood.
SportTechie: You’ve played 214 games the past 2 seasons, deep into June twice and now the Olympics. How do you keep in top competition mode and how does technology play a role? What technology did the Warriors and now USA Basketball use to keep everyone at top capacity?
Harrison Barnes: It’s all about how I prepare my body during the offseason. The training I’m doing now is focused on cardio workouts. I use the heart rate tracking feature on my Fitbit Blaze during workouts to monitor my heart rate zone and adjust my intensity up or down based on what I’m working on that day. For my workouts I try to keep my heart rate above 130. I’m also doing a lot more work in the weight room. Mostly I’m trying to maintain my cardio fitness because when you lose that, it’s harder to get back.
ST: How has technology within basketball changed even since your rookie year in the NBA and perhaps even further back to North Carolina?
HB: The biggest change I’ve seen is that the NBA has become a data-driven sport. Back in college, we watched highlight reels but in the NBA, teams are looking to measure and optimize every aspect of the game. Technology plays a big role here with motion sensors and other tools. That’s why my Fitbit is such a useful tool for me. I’m able to track things like active minutes and how well I’ve slept. Getting consistent sleep is a big area of focus for me with our busy schedules and my Fitbit shows me how long and how well I’ve slept every night which has an impact on my training and my performance on the court.
ST: You are now Fitbit’s new ambassador and you’ve gotten into investing and the technology world at a very young age. What brought on this interest to get into tech so early in your career?
HB: I’ve always been interested in technology and there’s a natural connection between technology and basketball. I’m constantly looking take my game to the next level, so when the opportunity came up for me to partner with the market leader in wearable fitness tracking, it made sense. Now my Fitbit Blaze is a big part of my routine. Being able to see my fitness data in real-time lets me adjust my workouts on the fly and get the most out of every session.
ST: How was interning at Facebook? What did it help you learn about one of the largest tech platforms in the world?
HB: It was a great experience. I learned so much about how a rapidly growing company works and how the people who work there think about how to continue to improve this platform that affects so many people around the world. Really cool to be able to be like an everyday intern and soak it all in.
ST: You’ve been in the Bay Area and now you are playing for Mark Cuban. Do you feel this has helped with your technology adaptation and do NBA players have an advantage getting into the tech space with so many team owners coming from the technology/entrepreneurial world.
HB: I think one of the advantages of team owners coming from the tech world is attention to detail. Everyone is very detail-oriented and the Mavericks’ organization is no exception. I’ve learned a lot from that. I’m surrounded by a very talented group of people, coaches and players alike. I was really happy to have been approached by Fitbit for a partnership. I think it shows how the intersection of technology and sports and fitness is really coming full circle.
ST: Describe the feeling of playing in the Olympics for the first time next month?
HB: Being able to play for your country and represent Team USA is the highest honor. I just want to get out there and compete. We come from so many different places in the NBA and we’re uniting to represent Team USA on the biggest stage in the world. It means a lot.