Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own blog, Hoops Haven .
Rick Barry, who many feel was the original point forward, made his NBA debut for the San Francisco Warriors back in October of 1965. He has the distinction of being the only player to lead the NCAA, NBA, and NBA in scoring for an individual season. Known as the “Miami Greyhound” early in his career because of his tall slender build, Barry is one of the few elite players who were forced to change their game because of injuries and remain a superstar. He is regarded as the prototypical small forward because of his perfect balance of an uncanny court vision, precision outside shooting, knowledge and execution of team defensive principles, and a tenacious and demanding will to win, and off course, he is probably best known for his patented underhand free throw style. He is also considered one of the game’s best underdogs since his teams regularly overachieved despite having marginal talent around him.
Born in Elizabeth, NJ, Barry was and 2 time, All State performer for his high school in Roselle Park, NJ, before taking his game to the University of Miami. This was a surprising move in itself since “The U” was not necessarily the mecca of collegiate hoops and for the fact that they were also on NCAA probation and banned from postseason play. As a senior in ’64-’65, he led the nation in scoring with a 37.4 ppg average, earning him the #2 overall selection of the San Francisco Warriors in the 1965 NBA Draft. Barry left the NCAA as one of it’s All Time greatest players with career averages of 29.8 ppg and 16.5 rebounds.
His impact was immediately felt in the NBA as he averaged 25.7 ppg and a career best 10.6 rebounds as he helped the Warriors improve from 17 wins to a respectable 35 wins in winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and an All NBA 1st Team Selection. His second season was perhaps his best statistically since he led the league in scoring with a 35.6 ppg average, edging Oscar Robertson by 5 points, which ranks as the 8th highest single season in history. Only Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Michael Jordan have had a higher average in a season. He also set an NBA record in a game against the NY Knicks by making 14 free throws in one quarter. That season, Barry also had one of the best performances ever in the All Star Game, scoring 38 points, earning the game’s MVP and helping to lead his West squad over a uber talented East squad led by coach Red Auerbach, Wilt, Bill Russell, and Oscar Robertson.
He came into his own during the ’67 Playoffs after leading the Warriors to 44 wins and finishing 1st in the Western Division. He led a much less heralded Warriors team all the way to the ’67 Finals against, what many consider one of the greatest teams of All Time, the Chamberlain led Sixers, taking them to six games before losing. Barry was phenomenal in the postseason by tieing or setting numerous NBA records. He tied Wilt’s record in the Finals by launching 48 shot attempts, making 22, tieing another record set by Elgin Baylor. His 55 points in that game rank 2nd All Time in Finals history, which was later tied by Jordan(’93), and 2nd to only Baylor’s 61 points in ’62. For the series, Barry averaged 40.8 ppg which was a Finals record until broken by Jordan’s 41.0 ppg in ’93.
He then was at the center of some controversy since he opted to jump to the rival Oakland Oaks of the ABA over bonuses that the Warriors refused to pay. A court injunction sidelined Barry for the entire ’67-’68 season before joining the Oaks in ’68. The move was perceived by fans as greed and arrogance and forever stained Barry in the public eye even though many other players were jumping to the rival league at the time as well.
Again, his immediate impact was felt as he averaged 34 ppg in leading the Oaks to the ABA Championship in ’69, even though he played in only 35 games because of injury. Then came more controversy since the Oakland franchise moved to Washington to become the Capitols. Barry refused the move and stated,”If I wanted to go to Washington, Id run for President!” After being refused to return to the NBA with the Warriors, he was forced to honor his ABA contract as the team played one season in Washington before moving again to become the Virginia Squires. Barry again made some off color comments in saying that he didn’t want his kids to grow up with a “dumb southern accent.” He was then traded to the NJ Nets for 2 seasons where he averaged 29.4 and 31.5 ppg. Barry left the ABA after playing only 4 seasons, earning 1 scoring title, 1 league championship, and 4 All ABA Selections, and is regarded as one of the best players in the league’s rich history.
A court decision forced Barry to again play for the Warriors in the NBA. Upon his return, he showed off his bulked up frame and ball handling and outside shooting, which he was forced to develop because of the ABA’s style of play and some injuries. He made the playoffs 4 times over his next 6 seasons with the Warriors, regularly averaging 20+ ppg and winning three of his six FT% titles, and leading his squad back to the NBA Finals in 1975. The Warriors shockingly swept the heavily favored Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes led Washington Bullets in the Finals behind Barry and Rookie of the Year, Jamaal(then known as Keith) Wilkes. Barry earned the Finals MVP Award. In an interesting fact, because nobody expected the Warriors to go so deep in the Playoffs, their home arena in Oakland was booked for another event and the team was forced to play their home games at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Barry ended his career with the Houston Rockets in 1980, after being traded for Jerry Lucas. Although not scoring at what was his accustomed high rate, he focused on distributing , 3 point shooting, and free throws, where he shot a then NBA record .947% in his final season.
After playing, Barry was one of the first to make a successful transition to broadcasting which he still does today on Sirius Satellite Radio. Even while as a commentor, Barry could not stay away from controversial statements by commenting on Celtics legend, Bill Russell, smiling during the ’81 Finals, saying.”He looks like some fool over there with that big watermelon grin.” As an announcer during the ’87 Slam Dunk Contest, he also called one of Jordan’s dunks a “Chinese Superman” because “It had a slant to it!”
Barry and his son Brent, along with Matt Goukas and son, have become the only father and son duo to win a NBA Championship as players. His other 3 sons, Scooter, Jon, and Brent have all played professional basketball. In 1987, Barry was elected into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
As for his legacy, he is at least in the argument as one of the greatest offensive players in history. his more than 25,000 career points, combining both leagues, ranks him 16th All Time. There is no doubt that Barry’s demeanor off and on the court depicting a villain, by berating officials and opposing players, never holding his tongue, and sometimes playing the game with a disdain, as if those surrounding him were on another level beneath him, will forever taint his legacy as one of the game’s best players.
Check out some career highlights of the “Miami Greyhound”:
