Barnett was born in Gary, Indiana, on October 2, 1936 [2] and later attended Theodore Roosevelt High School. His father was a steel worker, and his mother worked at a candy store.[2] As a youth, Dick Barnett found work at a steel mill as well as making deliveries.[3]
He became one of the best basketball players in the state of Indiana. His senior year, he led his team to the state basketball championship, which was the first final where two predominantly African American basketball squads faced each other. The team lost to Crispus Attucks High School and their future NBA star Oscar Robertson. He received All-state honors.
Barnett accepted a basketball scholarship from Tennessee A&I State College (now Tennessee State University), to play under coach John McLendon.[2] 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[3] as he released the ball with his left hand, taunting the defenders by saying, "Too late; Fall back baby".[5]
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. In 2005, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, along with his coach John McLendon.[8] 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.[9] In 2019, the 1957–59 Tennessee A&I Tigers men's basketball team was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Professional basketball career
Syracuse Nationals
Barnett was selected by the Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers) in the first round (4th overall) of the 1959 NBA draft. He was used in a sixth man role behind guards Larry Costello and Hal Greer.[3] 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.
On December 21, 1961, the Nationals won a court order barring him from playing that season in the rival American Basketball League.[10]
Los Angeles Lakers
On September 7, 1962, the Syracuse Nationals sold his player rights to the Los Angeles Lakers, for $35,000,[3] which at the time was the highest player-for-money transaction in league history.[11] He was also used in a sixth man role with the Lakers, behind Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. He helped the team win the Western Division title after West missed 27 games with a leg injury.
Famous Laker announcer Chick Hearn nicknamed him "Fall Back Baby". He averaged 16.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists during his three seasons with the team.
New York Knicks
On October 14, 1965, Barnett was traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for Bob Boozer and cash considerations.[12] 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.[13] 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.
Barnett was the subject of the 2022 documentary film The Dream Whisperer which chronicles the Tennessee A&I Tigers teams that won three NAIA basketball championships between 1957 and 1959.[16]
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