Grit and resilience. Defying the odds and redefining success. Embracing the beauty found within the ebbs and flows of life. Three powerful themes reflected in the story of Tim Barnes, and ones that continue to inspire him on a daily basis to reach his highest potential. Growing up, Tim recalls his dreams from an early age of playing basketball at the professional level. For him, it was clear. He wanted to compete against the best talent in the world; and he wanted to showcase his passion for the game while building a legacy in the space that would stand the test of time. He was on a mission. Sure enough, throughout his time in high school and college, Tim worked towards the opportunity to do just that. After starting his journey in semi-pro leagues and playing in the States for a few years, he was determined to take that next step in his career and showcase his talents on a bigger stage. He was locked in. Upon receiving an invitation to Spain for an exposure event, Tim headed overseas and began the next chapter of his career. It was up from there. From signing his first professional contract in Armenia to then heading to Germany to play for Löwen Basketball Club, Tim has achieved his dreams of playing at the professional level. Throughout his time in Germany, he earned an array of accolades including the league's Most Valuable Player and Guard of the Year Award awards.
It wasn't all smooth sailing though. Despite experiencing the highest level of success he had encountered to date, he was also facing one of the darkest times in his life off the court. Times that, as he reflects, were filled with self-doubt and uncertainty. Even with this, he remained hopeful. Tim believed that even in the midst of this storm, he would come out triumphant one way or another. He did just that. From rediscovering his love for basketball to identifying his passions beyond the game, Tim used those moments of adversity to redefine his purpose. Since then, he has honed in on business ventures and community initiatives that reflect his commitment to mental health, mentorship, and philanthropy. Along with this, he has also found his way back to the court and is excited to be joining Raja Club Athletic. One thing is for certain: the return of Tim Barnes is in full effect!
Back in 2020, you had been playing in different semi-pro leagues in the States. Shortly after, you achieved that goal of playing professionally and signed a professional contract to play in Armenia. How was that transition from playing in the States to then heading overseas like for you?
My first stop actually ended up being in Spain after playing semi-pro. I saw a lot of people, especially in Chicago, kind of getting stuck in that cycle of just being comfortable playing in semi-pro leagues. But for me, that was never the goal. It was just a stepping stone for me. My last season playing semi pro got shut down due COVID so that was just more of a sign for me to try to branch out and use that lockdown time to just work on my craft and plan my next steps. I ended up going to Spain for an exposure event and made a lot of great connections. I ended up getting a temporary contract with a team, and then from there just got the film needed to really make that push. My first real contract was in Armenia. That experience for me was good, it was different. You know, there was a lot expected of me. I won't say the team was super organized, but at that point the league was kind of like the biggest league in Armenia. It was the top league so the competition was a lot different than in Chicago in a lot of different ways. Language barriers, having to engulf a whole new culture, and adjusting to a whole new culture and way of life got a bit challenging at times, but it was super rewarding. You know, for my first experience, I enjoyed it a lot. From there, I got the opportunity to leave halfway through the season. My agent ended up helping me out and getting me another deal midway through the season to go play in Germany, and that's really where things kind of took off.
As you started your journey in Germany, what were some challenges that you faced early on and how did you work to overcome them?