Former New York Knicks star and Tennessee State University legend Dick Barnett is reportedly about to receive basketball’s highest honor.
Barnett is set to be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, according to Walt “Clyde” Frazier. No official announcement has been made, but Frazier says he was told the news by none other than Earl “The Pearl” Monroe.
Born Richard Barnett in Gary, Indiana, his rise to fame began at Theodore Roosevelt High where he led into battle with a Crispus Attucks team led by Oscar Robertson.
Barnett played his college ball at Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State University) where he played for legendary John
McLendon. His team won NAIA titles in 1957, 1958, and 1959.
Barnett graduated as the program’s all-time scorer with 3,209 points for a 23.6 average in 136 games. He totaled 1,571 career rebounds for an 11.6 average, a career shooting percentage of 44.8, and 80.0 from the free throw line.
He was selected fourth overall by the Syracuse Nationals in 1959. He briefly played for McLendon again, helping the Cleveland Pipers win the American Basketball League championship in 1961.
Barnett returned to the NBA in 1962, spending three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before being traded to the New York Knicks. Barnett had his best years with the Knicks, making the NBA All-Star game in 1968.
Barnett would go on to play a supporting role on the 1970 and 1973 teams that brought the New York Knicks their lone titles so far.
Dick Barnett scored 15,358 regular season points in his career and the Knicks retired his No. 12 jersey in 1990.