Phoenix Suns Sign Guard Leandro Barbosa

(Phoenix, AZ) – The Phoenix Suns today signed guard Leandro Barbosa, a 13-year NBA veteran who played eight of those seasons with the Suns, to a multiyear contract.

“Leandro has played a significant role on a number of very successful teams over the course of his career,” said General Manager Ryan McDonough. “‘LB’ is very popular with teammates and fans and we are thrilled to have him back as a key part of the Suns. We think he will contribute greatly to what we are building – on and off of the court – here in Phoenix.”

Barbosa returns to the Suns where he previously played his first seven professional seasons from 2003-2010, in addition to one season in 2013-14, averaging 12.4 points on 46.7 percent shooting from the field and 39.6 percent from behind the three-point arc in 486 games. One of the most productive players in franchise history, he ranks third in Suns history with 716 three-point makes (trailing only Steve Nash and Dan Majerle), fifth with his 39.6 percent mark from three-point range, 12th by playing in 486 games and 15th with 6,024 total points wearing purple and orange.

The Brazilian Blur had his best statistical season with the Suns in 2006-07 as he won both the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award and the Dan Majerle Hustle Award, averaging career-highs of 18.1 points and 4.0 assists. In his eight seasons with the Suns, Barbosa compiled 4,406 points in a reserve role, giving him the most career points off the bench by a Suns player since at least 1983-84 (as far back as such data is available). Additionally, Barbosa has averaged 10.2 points in 64 playoff games with the Suns, ranking seventh in franchise history for most playoff games and 12th by totaling 654 playoff points.

The 6-3, 194-pound speedster re-joins the Suns after spending the past two seasons as a key contributor with the Golden State Warriors, winning an NBA Championship in 2014-15 and helping the team set an NBA record with 73 regular season wins on the way to a Western Conference title in 2015-16. This past season, Barbosa averaged 6.4 points on 46.2 percent shooting in 15.9 minutes in 68 regular season games before posting 5.6 points on 58.0 percent shooting in 23 playoff games.

For his career, the 13-year veteran holds averages of 11.0 points and 2.2 assists, while shooting 46.0 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from three-point range and 81.9 percent from the free throw line in 783 games (112 starts) with the Suns (2003-10; 2013-14), Toronto Raptors (2010-12), Indiana Pacers (2012), Boston Celtics (2012-13) and Warriors (2014-16). Barbosa has also averaged 8.0 points in 119 career playoff games, playing for a team that has advanced to at least the Conference Finals in five of his eight postseasons.

The 28th overall selection of the 2003 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, Barbosa was initially acquired by the Suns in a trade on draft night. A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Barbosa played professionally for Bauru in Brazil before joining the NBA. Barbosa has represented his home country at several international competitions, twice winning gold at the FIBA Americas Championship, and plans to again play for their national team later this summer as Brazil hosts the 2016 Olympic Games.

Barbosa will wear uniform No. 19.