Richard Barnett (born October 2, 1936) is an American former

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

player who was a

shooting guard The shooting guard (SG), also known as the two, two guard or off guard,Shooting guards are 6'3"–6'7"BBC Sports academy URL last accessed 2006-09-09. is one of the five traditional positions in a regulation basketball game. A shooting guard's m ...

in the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball sports league, league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues i ...

(NBA) for the Syracuse Nationals,

Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...

and

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Associat ...

. He won two

NBA championship The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven game series to determine the league champion. The team that wins the series is a ...

s with the Knicks. Barnett was also a member of the

Cleveland Pipers The Cleveland Pipers were an American industrial basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1950s and early 1960s. The Pipers are mostly known for having played in the short-lived American Basketball League from 1961–62. They were also a po ...

in the American Basketball League. He played

college basketball In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...

at Tennessee A&I College.

Early years

Barnett attended Theodore Roosevelt High School in a segregated society. Although he struggled as a student at school, he became one of the best basketball players in the state of Indiana. As a senior, he led his team to the state basketball championship, which was the first final where 2 predominant

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

basketball squads faced each other. The team lost to

Crispus Attucks High School Crispus Attucks High School (also known as Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School) is a high school of the Indianapolis Public Schools in Indianapolis, in the U.S. state of Indiana. It is named for Crispus Attucks (c.1723 – March 5, 1770), ...

and their future NBA star

Oscar Robertson Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938), nicknamed "the Big O", is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Robertson playe ...

. He received All-state honors.

College career

Barnett accepted a basketball scholarship from Tennessee A&I College, to play under legendary coach John McLendon. As a freshman, he was given the nickname "Dick the Skull". He was known for his trademark "question mark" jump shot, with an unusual technique of kicking his legs back as he released the ball with his left hand, taunting the defenders by saying, "Too late; Fall back baby". He became a three-time Associated Press Little College All-American, helping the school to a 36-game winning streak and three consecutive NAIA national championship titles. In 1957, he was the first African American to be named to the National All-American team. He received back-to-back championship MVP honors in 1958 and 1959. Barnett graduated as the school's All-time scorer with 3,209 points for a 23.6 average in 136 games, while also recording 1,571 career rebounds for an 11.6 average, a career shooting percentage of 44.8 and 80.0 from the free throw line. In 1986, he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. In 1990, the school retired his No. 12 Jersey. In 1993, he was inducted into the

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. While it honors men and women associated with high school, college, and professional basketball in Indiana, an emphasis is placed on the athlete's high ...

. In 2005, he was inducted into the

Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is an American hall of fame which honors athletes, teams, coaches, sports writers, and sports executives for their contributions to sports in the state of Tennessee. The Hall of Fame inducted its first class in ...

. In 2007, he was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, along with his coach John McLendon. In 2012, he was named to the NAIA 75th Anniversary All-Star Team. In 2016, he was inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2019 the 1957–59 Tennessee A&I Tigers men's basketball team was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Syracuse Nationals

Barnett was selected by the Syracuse Nationals (now the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, colloquially known as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Ea ...

) in the first round (4th overall) of the

1959 NBA draft The 1959 NBA draft was the 13th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on March 31, 1959, before the 1959–60 season. In this draft, eight NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball pl ...

. He was used in a sixth man role behind guards

Larry Costello Lawrence Ronald Costello (July 2, 1931 – December 13, 2001) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He played for the Philadelphia Warriors, the Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers for the NBA and the Wilkes-Barre Barons. ...

and

Hal Greer Harold Everett Greer (June 26, 1936 – April 14, 2018) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1958 through 1973. A guard, Greer ...

. As a rookie, he averaged 12.4 points per game. In the 1960–61 season, he scored 16.9 points, which ranked seventh among the league's backcourt players.

Cleveland Pipers

In 1961, he signed with the

of the American Basketball League (ABL), which were owned by

George Steinbrenner George Michael Steinbrenner III (July 4, 1930July 13, 2010) was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees from 1973 until his death in 2010. He was the longest-serving own ...

(the future owner of the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one ...

) and coached by John McLendon. He was a part of the 1961–62 ABL Championship team. On December 21, 1961, the Nationals won a court order barring him from playing that season in the rival American Basketball League.

Los Angeles Lakers

On September 7, 1962, the Syracuse Nationals sold his player rights to the

, for $35,000, which at the time was the highest player-for-money transaction in league history. He was also used in a sixth man role with the Lakers, behind

Elgin Baylor Elgin Gay Baylor ( ; September 16, 1934 – March 22, 2021) was an American professional basketball player, coach, and executive. He played 14 seasons as a forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lak ...

and

Jerry West Jerome Alan West (born May 28, 1938) is an American basketball executive and former player. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His nicknames included "Mr. Clutch", for his ability ...

. He helped the team win the Western Division title after West missed 27 games with a leg injury. Famous Laker announcer

Chick Hearn Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn (November 27, 1916 – August 5, 2002) was an American sportscaster who was the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association for 41 years. Hearn is remembered for his rapi ...

nicknamed him "Fall Back Baby". Off the court, he was also known for his sharp wit. He averaged 16.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists during his 3 seasons with the team.

New York Knicks

On October 14, 1965, he was traded to the

in exchange for Bob Boozer and cash considerations. In his first season, he led the team in scoring with a 23.1 average. In 1968, he made his only All-Star appearance. In 1970, he helped the Knicks beat the Lakers for the NBA title. In 1973, he contributed to the team winning a second championship against the Lakers. He was released on October 23, 1973. He scored 15,358 regular season points in his career. In 1990, the Knicks retired his No. 12 jersey in the rafters of

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylv ...

NBA career statistics

Regular season

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Syracuse Syracuse may refer to: Places Italy * Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa'' * Province of Syracuse United States *Syracuse, New York **East Syracuse, New York ** North Syracuse, New York * Syracuse, Indiana *Syracuse, Kansas *Syracuse, M ...

, 57 , , – , , 21.7 , , .412 , , – , , .711 , , 2.7 , , 2.8 , , – , , – , , 12.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 78 , , – , , 26.5 , , .452 , , – , , .712 , , 3.6 , , 2.8 , , – , , – , , 16.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

L.A. Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...

, style="background:#cfecec;", 80* , , – , , 31.8 , , .471 , , – , , .815 , , 3.0 , , 2.8 , , – , , – , , 18.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 78 , , – , , 33.6 , , .452 , , – , , .773 , , 3.2 , , 3.1 , , – , , – , , 18.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 74 , , – , , 27.4 , , .413 , , – , , .799 , , 2.7 , , 2.1 , , – , , – , , 13.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, 79 , , – , , 34.5 , , .469 , , – , , .772 , , 4.1 , , 3.5 , , – , , – , , 23.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 67 , , – , , 29.4 , , .478 , , – , , .783 , , 3.4 , , 2.4 , , – , , – , , 17.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 81 , , – , , 30.7 , , .482 , , – , , .780 , , 2.9 , , 3.0 , , – , , – , , 18.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 82 , , – , , 36.0 , , .463 , , – , , .774 , , 3.1 , , 3.5 , , – , , – , , 17.6 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;",

, style="background:#cfecec;", 82* , , – , , 33.8 , , .475 , , – , , .714 , , 2.7 , , 3.6 , , – , , – , , 14.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 82 , , – , , 34.7 , , .456 , , – , , .694 , , 2.9 , , 2.7 , , – , , – , , 15.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 79 , , – , , 28.6 , , .437 , , – , , .753 , , 1.9 , , 2.5 , , – , , – , , 12.2 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;",

, 51 , , – , , 10.1 , , .389 , , – , , .533 , , 0.8 , , 1.0 , , – , , – , , 3.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 5 , , – , , 11.6 , , .385 , , – , , .667 , , 0.8 , , 1.2 , , 0.2 , , 0.0 , , 4.4 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 971 , , – , , 29.8 , , .456 , , – , , .761 , , 2.9 , , 2.8 , , 0.2 , , 0.0 , , 15.8 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", All-Star , 1 , , 0 , , 22.0 , , .583 , , – , , .500 , , 0.0 , , 1.0 , , – , , – , , 15.0

Playoffs

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1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Ja ...

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1961 Events January * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba (Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015). ** Aero Flight 311 (K ...

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, 8, , –, , 28.3, , .438, , –, , .722, , 4.5, , 1.5, , –, , –, , 15.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Co ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 13, , –, , 28.5, , .470, , –, , .794, , 2.9, , 1.6, , –, , –, , 16.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1964 , style="text-align:left;",

, 5, , –, , 30.8, , .404, , –, , .844, , 1.6, , 3.4, , –, , –, , 13.8 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in for a full term ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 10, , –, , 28.7, , .480, , –, , .795, , 3.0, , 3.3, , –, , –, , 17.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1968 The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide. Events January–February * January 5 – " Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. * J ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 6, , –, , 35.2, , .521, , –, , .724, , 4.5, , 3.5, , –, , –, , 23.8 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1969 This year is notable for Apollo 11's first landing on the moon. Events January * January 4 – The Government of Spain hands over Ifni to Morocco. * January 5 **Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701 crashes into a house on its approach to ...

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, 10, , –, , 40.2, , .399, , –, , .685, , 3.5, , 2.7, , –, , –, , 16.7 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", 1970† , style="text-align:left;",

, 19, , –, , 37.6, , .468, , –, , .776, , 2.1, , 3.4, , –, , –, , 16.9 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses ( February 25, July 22 and August 20) and two total lunar eclipses ( February 10, and August 6). The world population increased by 2.1% this year, the highest increase in history. Events J ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 12, , –, , 37.9, , .477, , –, , .698, , 3.2, , 3.0, , –, , –, , 19.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1972 , style="text-align:left;",

, 12, , –, , 10.9, , .469, , –, , .417, , 0.7, , 0.8, , –, , –, , 4.3 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;",

1973 Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: ...

† , style="text-align:left;",

, 4, , –, , 4.3, , .500, , –, , –, , 0.0, , 0.5, , –, , –, , 1.5 , - , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 102 , , – , , 29.7 , , .458 , , – , , .748 , , 2.7 , , 2.4 , , – , , – , , 15.1

Personal life

Barnett, who holds a PhD in education from Fordham University, is now retired from teaching Sports Management at St. John's University in

as of 2007.

Documentary

In April 2022, a documentary titled ''The Dream Whisperer'' about Barnett and his Tennessee A&I Tigers teams that won the NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament three times in a row between 1957-1959, was released.

References

External links

Leggett, William. "A New Knick With A Knack," ''Sports Illustrated'', January 17, 1966.

Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnett, Dick 1936 births Living people Basketball players from Gary, Indiana Forwards (basketball) Guards (basketball) Tennessee State Tigers basketball players Syracuse Nationals players Cleveland Pipers players Los Angeles Lakers players New York Knicks players American Basketball League (1961–62) players National Basketball Association All-Stars National Basketball Association players with retired numbers National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inductees American men's basketball players Syracuse Nationals draft picks Fordham University alumni

Early years

College career

Professional career

Syracuse Nationals

Cleveland Pipers

Los Angeles Lakers

New York Knicks

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Personal life

Documentary

See also

References

External links