Knicks Legend Dick Barnett Passes Away at 88

Dick Barnett, a Hall of Fame guard and two-time NBA champion with the New York Knicks, has passed away at 88. He died peacefully in his sleep over the weekend at a senior living center in Florida. Barnett is best known for his time with the Knicks, where he played nine seasons and won championships in 1970 and 1973. He averaged 15.6 points per game during his tenure with the team and is ninth on the Knicks’ career scoring list. His No. 12 jersey was retired by the Knicks in 1990.

Barnett’s basketball career began at Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State University), where he led the Tigers to three consecutive NAIA championships from 1957 to 1959. He was a three-time All-American and twice named MVP of the NAIA Tournament. The Tigers were eventually inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019, with Barnett representing the team.

In addition to his playing career, Barnett went on to become an assistant coach for the Knicks and later founded the Dr. Richard Barnett Center for Sports Education, Business and Technology foundation. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024, recognizing his achievements as both a player and a member of his college team.

Barnett’s legacy with the Knicks is still celebrated today, with teammates like Phil Jackson and Earl Monroe praising his contributions to the team’s success. “Dick was one of the leaders of that team,” Jackson said. “He’s one of the architects who built the legacy of what the Knicks were about,” Monroe added.