The Knicks, who announced Barnett’s demise on Sunday, didn’t present any further particulars, however stated in an announcement they had been “terribly saddened” to study of his passing.
“All through his illustrious profession, Dick Barnett embodied all the things it meant to be a New York Knick, each on and off the courtroom,” the crew said. “He left a optimistic influence on everybody he encountered and this group is extremely lucky to have him be such an integral a part of its historical past.
“His jersey will eternally cling within the rafters of Madison Sq. Backyard, and his play all through his profession will eternally be part of Knicks followers reminiscences.”
A star at Tennessee A&I School (now Tennessee State College), Barnett gained three NAIA titles from 1957-59 and was chosen fifth general within the 1959 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals (the long run Philadelphia 76ers). He spent two years in Syracuse, then a single season with the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League earlier than becoming a member of the Lakers in 1962 and finally the Knicks in 1965.
Barnett’s most memorable NBA seasons got here in New York, the place he averaged a career-high 23.1 factors per sport in 1965-66, made an All-Star crew in ’67-68, and gained championships with the Knicks in 1970 and 1973.
Barnett appeared in a complete of 971 NBA common season video games from 1959-73, averaging 15.8 factors, 2.9 rebounds and a couple of.8 assists in 29.8 minutes per contest. He ranks ninth on the Knicks’ all-time scoring listing with 9,442 factors, placing him proper between former teammates Earl Monroe and Invoice Bradley. He had his No. 12 jersey retired by the group in 1990.
Barnett was enshrined twice to the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame, first as a member of that three-time champion Tennessee A&I School crew in 2019, then as a participant in 2024.
