New York Knicks legend Dick Barnett has died. He was 88.
Barnett died in his sleep in an assisted living facility in Largo, Fla., according to The New York Times. His cause of death has not been released at this time.
The Knicks announced Barnett’s death — which comes almost exactly one year after he was voted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — in a post shared on X on Sunday, April 27.
“We are terribly saddened to hear about the passing of Knicks legend Dr. Richard Barnett,” the statement read.
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Dick Barnett (right) looking to shoot over Mike Riordan during a game in the late 1960s
“Throughout his illustrious career, Dick Barnett embodied everything it meant to be a New York Knick, both on-and-off-the-court. He left a positive impact on everyone he encountered, and this organization is incredibly fortunate to have him be such an integral part of its history,” the statement continued.
“His jersey will forever hang in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, and his play throughout his career will forever be a part of Knicks fans’ memories. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates in this difficult time.”
Barnett — who was known for his unique “Fall Back Baby” left-handed shot — played in the NBA for 14 seasons, the last nine of which were with the Knicks. He helped lead the team to two championship victories during his tenure — one in 1970 and the other in 1973.
In his 1971 memoir, Knicks coach Red Holzman called out Barnett specifically, writing, “He has such great basketball instinct. He grasps things faster than anyone,” per The New York Times.
Barnett’s last game was played in the 1973-1974 season with 15,358 career points for an average of 15.8 points per game.
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Dick Barnett waves to the crowd during a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in N.Y.C. on Jan. 9, 2023
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The athlete received a master’s degree in public administration from New York University while playing for the Knicks, and obtained a doctorate in education from Fordham University in 1991, per The New York Times.
He went on to teach sports management at St. John’s University in N.Y.C., where he established a publishing brand, Fall Back Baby Productions, under which he wrote poetry and think pieces.
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