Dick Barnett

Richard Barnett (born October 2, 1936) is an American former professional basketball player. He spent 14 seasons in the NBA (1959–73), but is mostly known for his nine seasons with the New York Knicks. Barnett played in the 1968 NBA All-Star Game and was a member of the 1970 and 1973 Knicks teams that won the NBA championship against the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 15,358 regular season points in his career.

Dick Barnett
Personal information
Born (1936-10-02) October 2, 1936
Gary, Indiana
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolTheodore Roosevelt
(Gary, Indiana)
CollegeTennessee State (1955–1959)
NBA draft1959 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall
Selected by the Syracuse Nationals
Playing career1959–1973
PositionShooting guard
Number5, 12
Career history
1959–1961Syracuse Nationals
1961–1962Cleveland Pipers
1962–1965Los Angeles Lakers
1965–1973New York Knicks
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points15,358 (15.8 ppg)
Rebounds2,812 (2.9 rpg)
Assists2,729 (2.8 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2007

Playing career

A three-time All-American player at Tennessee A & I (now Tennessee State University), Barnett led his team to three consecutive NAIA national championships for Hall of Fame Coach John McLendon. Barnett was named back-to-back championship MVP in 1958 and 1959.

The top draft choice of the Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers) of the NBA, Barnett played with the team until 1961, when he jumped ship from the NBA to play in the American Basketball League (ABL) with the Cleveland Pipers, who were owned by George Steinbrenner, the future owner of the New York Yankees. Barnett led them to an ABL Championship in the 1961–62 season. He then returned to the NBA to play with the Los Angeles Lakers for three seasons (legendary Laker announcer Chick Hearn nicknamed him "Fall Back Baby") and played on two NBA championship teams with the New York Knicks in 1969–70 and 1972–73.

Tennessee State University retired Richard "Dick the Skull" Barnett's Jersey in 2006.

Barnett's most recognizable playing feature was the way he kicked both legs back as he took his jump shot.[1] In April 2007, both he and his college coach John McLendon were inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.[2] Barnett was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.[3]

Post-playing career

Barnett, who holds a PhD in education from Fordham University,[4] is now retired from teaching Sports Management at St. John's University in New York as of 2007.

See also

References
  1. Leggett, William. "A New Knick With A Knack," Sports Illustrated, January 17, 1966 (see external link below).
  2. Dick Barnett and coach John Mclendon inductee selections for College Basketball HOF
  3. Tennessee Sports HOF inductee Dick Barnett at TSHF website Archived January 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Northwest Indiana native Dick Barnett article at LakeNet website
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