Marvin Barnes

Marvin Barnes

No. 24, 8, 27
Power forward / Center
Personal information
Date of birth	July 27, 1952 (1952-07-27) (age 59)
Place of birth	Providence, Rhode Island
Nationality	American
High school	Central (Providence)
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College	Providence (1970–1974)
NBA Draft	1974 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Pro career	1974–1986
Career history
1974–1976	Spirits of St. Louis (ABA)
1976–1977	Detroit Pistons
1977–1978	Buffalo Braves
1978–1979	Boston Celtics
1980	San Diego Clippers
1980	Hurlingham Trieste (Italy)
1983–1984	Ohio Mixers (CBA)
1985–1986	Evansville Thunder (CBA)
Career highlights and awards
2× ABA All-Star (1975–1976) ABA Rookie of the Year (1975) All-ABA Second Team (1975) ABA All-Rookie First Team (1975) ABA All-Time Team Consensus NCAA All-American First Team (1974)
Career ABA and NBA statistics
Points	5,034 (16.0 ppg)
Rebounds	2,873 (9.1 rpg)
Blocks	438 (1.4 bpg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Marvin Jerome Barnes (born July 27, 1952, in Providence, Rhode Island) is a former professional American basketball player.

As a 6'8" forward for Providence College, Barnes (nicknamed "Bad News") led the nation in rebounding in 1973-74. On December 15, 1973, Barnes scored 52 points against Austin Peay, breaking the single-game school record. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the second overall pick in the first round of the 1974 NBA Draft and by the Spirits of St. Louis in the 1974 ABA Draft. Barnes opted for the ABA and played for the Spirits in the American Basketball Association from 1974 to 1976 before playing in the National Basketball Association from 1976 to 1980. He had his greatest success in the ABA, where he starred for the Spirits of St. Louis and was named Rookie of the Year for the 1974–75 season. He also shares the ABA record for most two-point field goals in a game, with 27. In 2005, the ABA 2000, the second incarnation of the ABA, named one of their divisions after him.

In 1973, he was the first player to score 10 times on 10 field goal attempts in the NCAA playoffs, and remains tied for second behind Kenny Walker, who went 11-for-11 in 1986.^[1]

His nickname, "Bad News", came from his frequent off-court problems. He has been arrested for burglary, drug possession, and trespassing.^[2] Because of his drug use, his NBA career was cut short and he wound up homeless in San Diego, California in the early 80s. After multiple rehab programs, he started reaching out to youth in South Providence, where he grew up, urging them not to make the same mistakes he had.^[3]

In March 2008, Providence College retired his jersey, honoring him along with Ernie DiGregorio and Jimmy Walker. He still holds the school single-game scoring record of 52 points. (Tied with Marshon Brooks) ^[4]

See also

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 30 or more rebounds in a game
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leaders

References

1. ^ "NCAA Tournament Capsules". Sports Illustrated. 2009-03-20. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/wires/03/20/2060.ap.bkc.ncaa.tournament.capsules.1st.ld.writethru.1623/. Retrieved 2009-03-28. 
2. ^ "More Bad News for Marvin Barnes". The Washington Post. 2007-05-15. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/15/AR2007051501277_pf.html. Retrieved 2009-03-28. 
3. ^ Grossfeld, Stan (2006-01-06). "Good news, bad news". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2006/01/06/good_news_bad_news/. Retrieved 2009-03-29. 
4. ^ McNamara, Kevin (2008-03-09). "PC honors 3 of its very best: Walker, Barnes, DiGregorio". Providence Journal. http://www.projo.com/pc/content/sp_bkc_pcjo09_03-09-08_JD9AE66_v6.33c34b2.html. Retrieved 2009-03-28. 

External links

• Marvin Barnes page at RememberTheABA.com
• Career stats at basketball-reference.com
• "ABA Names Division After Marvin "Bad News" Barnes", article at

Preceded by Swen Nater

American Basketball Association Rookie of the Year 1975

Succeeded by David Thompson

Persondata
Name	Barnes, Marvin
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 27, 1952
Place of birth	Providence, Rhode Island
Date of death
Place of death