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RB
Basketball Biography

Rick Barry

“Rick”

American flag American · Elizabeth, New Jersey · Born 28 March 1944

Small Forward

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One of the greatest pure scorers in basketball history — NBA and ABA champion whose underhand free throws were legendary.

Richard Francis Dennis Barry III was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1944 and attended the University of Miami. San Francisco Warriors selected him second overall in the 1965 NBA Draft. His combined NBA and ABA career produced averages of 23.2 points per game — one of the highest in professional basketball history. He won the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1966. He was selected to 12 All-Star games across both leagues. He won the ABA championship with the Oakland Oaks in 1969 and the NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 1975, winning the Finals MVP. He averaged 29.5 points per game in the 1975 Finals. He led the NBA in scoring in 1966-67. His underhand free throw shooting — which he shot at approximately 90% across his career using the granny style — became his most distinctive trademark and has since been analysed by scientists as the mechanically optimal method of free throw shooting. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987 and named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team in 1996. His sons Brent, Jon, Drew and Canyon all played in the NBA — the most prolific basketball family in history.

Famous For

Underhand free throw shooting and prolific scoring

Playing Style

How They Played

Prolific scorer with exceptional free throw accuracy using underhand technique, strong rebounder and passer

Legacy

Lasting Impact

Hall of Fame forward known for unique free throw technique and championship success in both NBA and ABA

Honours & Achievements

Career Honours

  • NBA Champion (1975)
  • ABA Champion (1969)
  • Finals MVP (1975)
  • All-Star 12x
  • ABA MVP (1969)
Club Career
Club Period Apps
San Francisco/Golden State Warriors1965–1967237
Oakland Oaks1968–196935
Washington Caps1969–197052
New York Nets1970–197284
Golden State Warriors1972–1978329
Houston Rockets1978–198072
Career Journey

Timeline

1965 📌 NBA debut with San Francisco Warriors
1966 🥇 NBA Rookie of the Year
1969 🏆 ABA Championship with Oakland Oaks
1975 🏆 NBA Championship and Finals MVP with Golden State
1980 🎯 Retired with over 25,000 career points
1987 🥇 Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

5 common questions about Rick Barry

Rick Barry averaged 23.2 points per game in the NBA.

Rick Barry won 2 NBA Championships.

Rick Barry averaged 6.7 rebounds per game in his NBA career.

Rick Barry averaged 4.9 assists per game in his NBA career.

Rick Barry was born in 1944 in Elizabeth.