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Dick Barnett, a basketball hall of Famer and an all-star who won NBA championships with New York Knicks, has died, the team announced on Sunday.
He was 88.
Gary, Indiana, natives were the fifth election in the draft 1959 out of Tennessee A&I. He started his career with Syracuse Nationals, played three seasons with Los Angeles Lakers and eventually played nine years with Knicks from 1965 to 1974.
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Phoenix Suns ‘Dick Van Arsdale, #5, comes in on a spectacle as New York Knicks’ Dick Barnett, #12, prepares to move out with the ball during a NBA Babback Camp in New York’s Madison Square Garden on October 21, 1969. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File)
“Throughout his famous career, Dick Barnett embodied all that it meant to be a New York Knick, both on and off the field,” Knicks said in a statement. “He left a positive influence on everyone he met, and this organization is incredibly lucky to have him to be such an integral part of its history.
“His jersey will forever hang in the barriers of Madison Square Garden, and his acting throughout his career will forever be part of Knick’s fans’ memories.”
Barnett was part of the Tennessee A&I Dynasty, which won three equal NAIA championships in 1957. The school is now known as Tennessee State.
Former New York Knicks star Dick Barnett looks at as Knicks undertakes Houston Rockets during the second half of an NBA basketball match on March 27, 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
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He was part of the Knicks team in 1970, which defeated Lakers in seven games to win the championship. He average 14.9 points and 3.6 assists that season. He played with Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Dave Debusschers.
In 1973, Knick’s Lakers defeated again – this time in five games. He was mostly a bench player at the time in his career. Frazier, Debusschers and Bill Bradley led the team in the scoring.
He completed his career with a 15.8 point per Average and 9,442 total points with Knicks. He is ninth on Knicks’ career scoring list, and his No. 12 jersey retired in 1990.
The Hall of Fame inductor and former New York Knicks starts Dick Barnett movements during a timeout in the first half of the NBA basketball match between Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers on November 10, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Alpine, File)
Barnett was introduced to the Hall of Fame as a player in 2024.
