Two-Time NBA Champion and TSU Icon Dick Barnett Passes Away at 88
Dick Barnett. Image via: AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File
The basketball world is mourning the loss of Dr. Richard "Dick" Barnett, the Hall of Fame guard who helped shape the identity of the
New York Knicks
and paved the way for generations of athletes. Barnett passed away peacefully on April 26, 2025, at the age of 88, at an assisted living facility in Florida, as reported by The New York Times.
Basketball legend Dick Barnett passes away
Dick van Arsdale and Dick Barnett. Image via: AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File
During his nine seasons with the New York Knicks,
Dick Barnett
was a cornerstone of the franchise, averaging 15.6 points per game and helping lead the team to its only two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Known for his signature "Fall Back Baby" jump shot — a smooth, unconventional move where his legs kicked back as he released the ball — Barnett became one of the Knicks' most beloved figures. His No. 12 jersey was retired at Madison Square Garden in 1990.
The Knicks paid tribute in a heartfelt statement: "We are terribly saddened to hear about the passing of Knicks legend Dr. Richard Barnett. 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."
Dick Barnett's impact on the game stretched far beyond the NBA hardwood. A native of Gary, Indiana, Barnett first made history at Tennessee A&I (now
Tennessee State University
), leading the Tigers to three straight NAIA national championships from 1957 to 1959 under legendary coach John McLendon. He was a three-time All-American and twice named the NAIA Tournament MVP, solidifying Tennessee A&I as the first historically Black college to win a national basketball title.
Following his collegiate dominance, Barnett was selected No. 5 overall by the Syracuse Nationals in the 1959 NBA Draft, becoming the first HBCU graduate to be drafted in the first round. He later played for the Los Angeles Lakers before arriving in New York, where his legend truly took flight.
Beyond his playing days, Barnett was equally committed to education and advocacy. Earning a master's degree from New York University and a doctorate in education from Fordham University, he later taught at St. John's University and created Fall Back Baby Productions to inspire young athletes.
His tireless efforts to honor his college team finally bore fruit when Tennessee State's championship squads were enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2024, Barnett himself was inducted individually into the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
, a crowning achievement to a lifetime of impact. That same year, he and his former teammates were honored at the White House, where former Vice President Kamala Harris stated, "There's so much that we have accomplished as a nation because of the heroes like those that I'm looking at right now."
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Longtime friend Chuck Hughes recalled a special memory when Barnett fulfilled a personal dream, meeting Gregg Popovich at Madison Square Garden. "Dick Barnett is a big legend so it was hard to put together, but that was on his bucket list," Hughes shared.
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