Dick Barnett

Dick Barnett

No. 5, 12
Forward / Guard
Personal information
Date of birth	October 2, 1936 (1936-10-02) (age 75)
Place of birth	Gary, Indiana
Nationality	American
High school	Theodore Roosevelt (Gary)
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
College	Tennessee State
NBA Draft	1959 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall
Selected by the Syracuse Nationals
Pro career	1959–1973
Career history
1959–1961	Syracuse Nationals
1961–1962	Cleveland Pipers (ABL)
1962–1965	Los Angeles Lakers
1965–1973	New York Knicks
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA Champion (1970, 1973) NBA All-Star (1968) 2x NAIA Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player (1958, 1959) ABL Champion (1963) #12 retired by the New York Knicks
Career NBA statistics
Points	15,358 (15.8 ppg)
Rebounds	2,812 (2.9 rpg)
Assists	2,729 (2.8 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Richard "Dick" Barnett (born October 2, 1936 in Gary, Indiana) is a former American professional basketball player. He spent 14 seasons in the NBA (1959–74), but is mostly known for his 9 seasons with the New York Knicks. Barnett played in the 1968 NBA All-Star Game and was a part of the famous 1970 Knicks team, that won the NBA championship against the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 15,358 regular season points in his career.

Playing career

A three-time All-America 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 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 1962, 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, now New York Yankees owner. Barnett led them to an ABL Championship in the 1962-63 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.^{[citation needed]}

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 McClendon were inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.^[2] Barnett is 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.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• 1957 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
• 1958 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
• 1959 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
• NAIA Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player
• Tennessee A & I

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
4. ^ http://www.lakenetnwi.net/member/notable/html/Dick%20Barnett.htm Northwest Indiana native Dick Barnett article at LakeNet website

External links

• Leggett, William. "A New Knick With A Knack," Sports Illustrated, January 17, 1966.
• Career statistics and player information at Basketball-Reference.com
• Official Website DrDickbarnett.com

Persondata
Name	Barnett, Dick
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 2, 1936
Place of birth	Gary, Indiana
Date of death
Place of death