How Good Was Rick Barry REALLY?

A dive into the talent, legacy and skills of one of the great wing scorers of Basketball history.
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The game of Basketball has been my passion since I was 5 years old. I grew up as a kid watching my dad's recorded VHS tapes of playoff games through the 70s and 80s, and collected all the Basketball cards. Something about the game and what it represents just hooked me from a very young age.
My love for the game only continues to grow as time goes on. I love studying and analyzing the game, with an unbiased perspective. Feel free to subscribe, follow me on social media, and celebrate this amazing game and it's rich history with me!
I post videos every week on NBA history, predictions, hypothetical scenarios and current NBA topics.
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Intro Music: Turn On - RW Smith • Turn On - RW Smith (No...
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#NBA #RickBarry #Warriors

[@jonnyarnett]

How would Rick do in the modern NBA? (Rick has said he would dominate) NOTE: Sorry if the sound is weird on this one. I tested positive for the Virus, so its messed up my voice a bit. Other than an annoying fever, I'm doing alright though :)

[@clydetheglidetop5sgtop10du7]

Maybe he could be a top 10 player and that's being generous

[@fernandocarrazzoni]

Get better soon. I'm positive that this will be over by this time next year.

[@AlstonMurray]

Stay safe Brotha💪

[@seyiolotu1708]

He would have done excellently well if he did still played and wishing you a speedy recovery Jonny.

[@MJIZZEL]

Thanks for the commitment Jonny. You got the virus and still put out a video. Get better bro.

[@jedwing]

There was a piece in Sports Illustrated on him some years ago where he explained the brilliant logic behind the "granny." He said that shooting free throws should be considered a separate part of the game - offense, defense, free throws - and that players adapt their regular shooting form to free throws, but that muscle fatigue from shooting rebounding defense and pushing guys, dribbling etc., affects keeping one's hand steady when shooting from the line, especially late in games. But the granny style has a natural, relaxed motion that is unaffected by fatigue. Also, the ball goes to the rim more softly so you don't shoot bricks that bounce around. He said that if you're shooting 80% from the line, don't mess with it. But if you're shooting less you might consider it. And while Shaq and fans make fun of it and say it's embarrassing, the real embarrassment is shooting bricks and missing throws with the game on the line.

[@ronbonora7872]

Wilt should have used the granny shot! but was too proud! big mistake!

[@dgtom]

Wilt did shoot the granny style for a while when he was on the Warriors.

[@wmden1]

Barry didn't give a ------, what anybody thought about how he shot free throws, or much else, and I feel sure is still that way. He is one of the best to have ever played the game.

[@mikecushing7276]

Brilliant. NCAA ABA NBA scoring champion ABA & NBA titles 1st or forward Team defense steals assists. rebounding Massive Court awareness a leader Jordan like will to win Sweeping a great Bullet's team biggest upset in NBA history His mega second year he's two plays away from winning a NBA title He's the go-to leader

[@mikecushing7276]

Wilt it believe me

[@2Oldcoots]

I shared Typing Class with this man in the 9th Grade at Roselle Park High School, New Jersey. I was nobody and he was the GOAT of the High School. Despite the chasm he was kind, decent, helpful, and an outstanding classmate to every single person in that class. A true Gentleman at all times. One of a kind personality and we all loved him. He put his basketball talent into a separate box and treated all of us as he would have wanted to be treated if he wasn't a STAR. All Aces to Rick Barry!

[@FATillery]

I am in my early sixties and I watched him play. He was one of the best. He certainly deserves more recognition that he has received. He use to light it up for real! Ball control, shooting, defense...overall court awareness on both sides of the ball and let's not forget his free throw technique. Yes! Let's not forget Rick Barry when mentioning some of the greatest.

[@hawaiiguy1]

he's still my all time favorite NBA player !

[@jingqi9106]

There have been some great small forwards - Elgin, Larry Legend, Lebron, Dr J - but Barry is as good as any of em. I saw him play a lot and was amazed by Rick's ability to drive to the basket, pull up and shoot his soft jumper, or make a great pass for a bucket. Barry's anticipation on defense, quickness, and basketball IQ led to so many steals. I mean, 3 steals a game the year the Warriors won the title was crazy. What a great player.

[@FATillery]

@@jingqi9106 Indeed, my friend. He was one of the greats.

[@Amick44]

@@hawaiiguy1 very close to mine. I will say I definitely enjoyed watching him as much as anyone.

[@myronersteniuk5805]

His winning the '74 - '75 title with Golden State was one of the most memorable upsets ever. One of the greatest scorers I've ever seen.

[@charlescohen6140]

Especially those first few years when he drove instead of pulling up.

[@Stonecrow25]

My first year as a kid really following the league. I shot ft using his method in jr high bball. Coach hated it, but I made it a bunch so he let me do It

[@ericdahl6727]

Yup - esp when the sweep was bet to go other way...

[@mikekelly607]

Something the video did not mention is when Rick Barry was playing for the Houston Rockets in 1980, as a 35 year old in his final season, he set a single game record for most 3 pointers, hitting 8; a record that stood for 10 years.

[@weinerdog44]

I was actually at that game in Milwaukee at the MECCA Arena that day. In fact I wrote to him and he dropped tickets off for us to meet him. He met at near court, took pics with us and autographed everything we brought, as a freshman in HS was a huge day and he is One of the Greatest of All Time !! Thanks again Rick for making my day and getting to watch was the best !

[@cortr9310]

Barry's father in law was also in charge of the Oakland Oaks, another reason he jumped to the ABA. Barry is also the only man EVER to lead the NCAA, NBA and ABA in scoring in a season.

[@lynntempleton9640]

He's also the only player to score 50 in a game 7.

[@cortr9310]

@@lynntempleton9640 was that in the ABA?

[@lynntempleton9640]

@@cortr9310 Yes, 1970 for Washington Capitols...scored 52 in a game 7 defeat to the Denver Rockets.

[@davanmani556]

Also, Bill Sharman’s coaching.

[@billhorstkamp98]

@@cortr9310 when they beat the bullets for the NBA championship he had one of the greatest four games series during that sweep that I ever saw. I’m sure you could find one of those games on KZbin. You should check it out

[@benlujan288]

Rick Barry = one of the GREATS. Period.

[@markmullin8361]

GREAT player...whose ability always seemed to be overshadowed by his mouth and attitude. I had a poster of this guy hanging in my bedroom when I was a kid. The '74-'75 Warriors were one of the greatest original Cinderella stories in NBA playoff history.

[@JamesBond-ts3xl]

Absolutely! That team was such a joy to follow....first team I ever followed start to finish that won a championship. Wonderful team.

[@davidgish8250]

It rescued my year.

[@ehrenthompson7891]

Him and Kareem: They did conform. But, Barry did quit on his team.

[@markmullin8361]

@@ehrenthompson7891 Great player...asshole as a team mate!

[@ehrenthompson7891]

@@markmullin8361 agree

[@coreyzimmerman9782]

I went to a basketball camp with RB in high school. He was with Billy Cunnngham. They came out one day and shot for 30 minutes & didn't miss a shot. Then we worked on 3 on 3 fast breaks & he complemented me on a pass i threw. My greatest bb achievement!

[@tictocbang7443]

That's awesome! I went to basketball camp with RB in junior high. I injured my ankle at the camp and ended up in a cast. As RB was scrimmaging, I walked across the corner of the court and he said, "Better hustle up kid, or we'll break your other leg." I think he thought he was being funny.

[@billhorstkamp98]

@@tictocbang7443 that sounds like him. I lived in Napa, California and I had quite a few friends who went to his camp. Most of them said he was a jerk.😂😂

[@glenn-fr7hj]

Extremely underrated player, all time great . He average all those points without a 3point line- so add 5-6 points a game to his total. Yes he quit on game 7,but let’s be honest would you appreciate none of your teammates coming to back you up during a fight ?

[@devwraith836]

Hell no. . . I don't blame Barry I blame his lame ass teammates & how the league was back then. . .

[@KennnnyT]

he prob wasn't a great teammate to begin with. Would you back up an asshole?

[@Kermit_T_Frog]

Playing before the 3 pt shot, he's one of those players who'd be even better today.

[@sassysalmon93]

I'd be livid too but I hate losing too much to get that petty. Also he's one of the biggest assholes to play the game, right up there with Karl Malone so I'm sure they had their reasons.

[@sassysalmon93]

@7:12 I'm not going to lie though, watching him making his teammates realize they're void without him was hilarious. They're just as guilty of quitting, even though he was an arrogant jerk (and probably deserved it) they should've still had his back. It comes down to how bad you want to win, championships don't come without sacrafice.

[@zerimar26]

Rick would light up today's NBA. Would of been interesting to see him play in the NBA his entire career when he played in the ABA for a couple seasons. Rick is a class act. I remember watching Rick interview Magic after he had that great game with 42 points in gm 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals w/o Kareem.

[@billhorstkamp98]

If he was in his prime, he’d score 40 a game if he wanted. Oh, and his team would win.

[@natrix3759]

Casuals: Hes that guy that shot granny-style right? Edit: I put casuals because thats all people that don't follow basketball know about Rick Barry, that he shot underhand/granny-style free throws.

[@clydetheglidetop5sgtop10du7]

He shot it at a 90% clip

[@jingqi9106]

@@clydetheglidetop5sgtop10du7 He was way better than just some old dude that shot granny style, he's one of the greatest players ever. 💪

[@Amick44]

@@jingqi9106 i know. It is an injustice to remember him primarily for that.

[@earlismarks7108]

It was not granny style it is the most accurate method for shooting free trows...it was part of early NBA Basketball like the hook shot...and 20 ft bank shots..

[@jingqi9106]

@@earlismarks7108 As I recall the underhand method of shooting free throws took Barry from a 75% free throw shooter to 90%. It's an understatement to call that method, at least for Barry, highly effective when he's one of the greatest free throw shooters of all-time. The 20 foot bank shot is also a very effective shot - Tim Duncan used it so well he's one of the best big men shooters of all time. However, the bank shot is used far more today than the under hand free throw method.

[@bobbresnahan8397]

Top 5 small forward, the strongest position in the pros. I didn't like him, but his game was beautiful. Beautiful form on his jumper, great driver, see all those short-range running shots off the backboard. Very special, very unusual player.

[@nomikes4392]

Please see my post. I agree. I only knew/played with one other player that seemed to have a gyroscope in his body that allowed him to square up to the basket no matter what position he was in before he initiated the shot (Jeff White all CIF as a freshmen in California/Bellevue Community College)

[@jmad627]

Bob Bresnahan yeah he wasn’t too likable, but he sure could play.

[@johnwhite2576]

Bob dotn forget he was a great passer, could score off both hands, had elevation and quickness and vision as well.

[@swingtrade2]

The Miami Greyhound! I remember him pulling up on fast breaks for jump shots. The guy lead the NCAA in scoring. He was also the fastest player on the Warriors yr they won it.

[@bobbresnahan8397]

I'm rethinking the top 5 rating. Lebron, Bird, DrJ (take his ABA years into account), Kevin Durant, Rick Barry? What about Scottie P whose overall impact on the game was so great? Adrian Dantley. No one mentions Bernard King, but he's definitely up there pre-injury. Grant Hill pre-injury, Alex English (the ABA guys are always underrated). ... This stuff is hard. What about Elgin Baylor? He was a dominant player for years. The game of every single one of these players was unique and awesome.

[@MindfulAttraction2.0]

0:59 am I the only one that finds this form beautiful. It's one of the most fundamentally looking shots I've ever seen

[@teej783]

Every shot he took was poetry in motion. He had more than a jump shot.

[@haroldsmith4056]

Underhand free throw attempts 90% @ the free throw line

[@jamesbarry6979]

Your Correct

[@markpagtama7954]

It depends. In the midrange 2 motion jumpshots are good. But with threes one motion shots are better.

[@thirdcoastslots9394]

I agree! A gorgeous jump shot. Timeless

[@RayManzarekRocks]

10 Rick Barry Fun Facts, at least one of which you did not know . . . 10. He grew up a Willie Mays fan, basket catches and all, hence jersey No. 24. 9. In the mid-1970s, he became the first so-called point forward, a hybrid position that combined small forward and point guard skills. 8. He is the only pro player to wear one number at home (2) and another on the road (4). (The Rockets' Moses Malone already had 24 when Barry arrived in Houston.) 7. He would have concluded his career with Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics, but when roster sizes were reduced to 11 per game because of financial considerations, it never came to pass. 6. His career 30.5 points-per-game average and .900 free-throw percentage rank first in ABA history. 5. At 26-4, the 1968-69 Oakland Oaks were on a pace for a 68-10 record when Barry went down with his first major knee injury. 4. He is one of four players to win ABA and NBA championships. 3. His record 40.8 points-per-game average in the 1967 NBA Finals stood for 26 years. (Michael Jordan, 41.0.) 2. He accomplished No. 3 despite two cortisone injections to his bum knee on game days. 1. He's the only player to score 50 points in Game 7 of a playoff series (52, 1970, at Denver).

[@bryanmeekins835]

I was a Bullets fan back in the 70s and I am still amazed by his performance in that 4 game sweep in the '75 finals. Just incredible!

[@jamesbarry6979]

I Agree..

[@jingqi9106]

I saw that series and Rick was great! He scored 38 in game 4 of that sweep, so clutch!

[@bryanmeekins835]

@@jingqi9106 yep, I remember it well. The Bullets had such a great team that seaon, elite players like Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, Phil Chenier. We all felt certain that we would be celebrating a championship. Rick Barry and the Warriors totally humbled the Bullets. Every time he would sink one of those underhand free throws it would just kill me! 😂

[@davidtrail2696]

Me too. Used to go to Bullets games at the Cap Center pretty frequently. Big Wes, Big E, and Bobby D were my favorite players.

[@bryanmeekins835]

@@davidtrail2696 I remember how every time Big E would hit a shot the PA announcer would say, "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"

[@trapezemusic]

I followed him throughout his entire career. He was an amazing player in every aspect of the game. Sadly, he was unpopular with fellow players because he said what was on his mind. Re the incident against the Suns in Game 7 of that series, try to imagine how you would feel if you saw the footage at halftime and realized that none of his teammates came to help. True, he didn't start shooting again until it was too late, but his passing was on target (as usual). His teammates simply missed one shot after another. They lost that second half, not Barry.

[@FuShengAlex]

@harold mccoy When you say he cost them the championship......would they have beaten Boston in 1976 though if they'd gotten past the Suns? An older Havlicek vs Barry would've been a great matchup. Also it's hard not to leave Durant out amongst the top 5 SFs ever.

[@charlesritter6640]

It was an immature move for sure. He shouldn't of been watching the footage until after the game anyway

[@danielp5317]

Rick Barry was a fuckn scoring machine and a good rebounder, free throw shooter and assist man definitely one of the most recognize guys when I started playing hoops and watching NBA basketball. Dudes outside shooting was phenomenal

[@chrisb3738]

Yes - been waiting for that one. He was deadly. More than any other player from that era, his game was designed for today.

[@mstunny3575]

Ok Rick Barry would average 40 today. Today There's no hand checkin! He avg 35 without the 3pt shot.

[@BenDover-jy1wy]

Pistol Pete and Jerry West along with him, yes.

[@donaldf9055]

Jerry West is up there as well. Man Ricky is so underrated.

[@tonybailey1637]

Was reading Jerry West's autobiography, and in it he said he thought Rick Barry might be as good as Larry Bird, my favorite player. Thanks for the career round-up, very informative.

[@cursiver4013]

Rick Barry is one of the most underrated players in NBA history. Who agrees?

[@cursiver4013]

@Tong Zou I agree with you.

[@keepitprivate91]

@Tong Zou the aba was not an inferior league, they had a three point line and a lot of stars, in my opinion their elite teams were more fun to watch than elite nba teams from the 70s

[@jingqi9106]

Barry was as good as any wing player ever, including Bird or Lebron, that's how good he was.

[@butter1ftw724]

All warriors fans agree

[@cursiver4013]

@@butter1ftw724 unfortunately I am not a Warriors fan. But I still agree either way.

[@tydavis4781]

Maybe the most underrated player of all time!

[@Amick44]

Moses and Havlicek don't really get their due either.

[@Bloorgusgoorge]

@@Amick44 and hayes

[@thefisherman0074]

@@Amick44 I wanna say Pete Maravich ONLY cause so many have forgotten the man

[@qxdir_]

definitely moses

[@PoliticusRex632]

Bird came in as Rick's star was fading and stole his thunder.

[@soroushai2374]

Johnny you're the greatest analyst of KZbin so upload more man

[@lloydclevenger6756]

Loved that Warrior team that he won championship with 75 maybe. Jamal, Dudley, Cliff.. and my favorite player of all time ,a young Gus Williams.

[@luvlgs1]

keith wilkes back then. i think gus williams came the next year

[@lloydclevenger6756]

@@luvlgs1 Shoot yeah, You are right. All these years i thought Gus had 2 rings. Can even remember him playing just a bit. He became my favorite player of all-time playn with Sonics.. he was so cool and humble. In those days it was a little different.. and he never put up Gaudy numbers but he could literally dominate a game , which he did quite frequently. Still pissed about Sonics getting ripped off in 78 when they had 3-2 lead on Bullets. Webster got robbed.

[@vanguardas9927]

I'm one of the people requesting this video. I'm hoping for Artis Gilmore next! Thanks Jonny!

[@Kermit_T_Frog]

Another criminally underrated player.

[@greense65]

Yeah, the A-Train!

[@brianarbenz1329]

Artis was the most underrated player ever. Look at his 1975 numbers with the ABA champion Kentucky Colonels. Mind blowing. Better than any year Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had.

[@earlismarks7108]

@@greense65 exactly...

[@bobbywhitehead4204]

Artis was like a wall in the paint. Just a giant.

[@91dodgespiritrt]

Rick Barry was my sports HERO. As a 10 year old his book "Confessions of a Basketball Gypsy", was my constant "companion". Thank you for the memories. Barry dropped more (30 foot) BOMBS than all WW2 fighter pilots put together. The creepy kneeling NBA can ignore you but you will never be forgotten. THANK YOU, RICK!

[@ShunyamNiketana]

Let's remember that Rick's 35.6 avg in his sophomore year was accomplished without the three-point shot. His game was well suited to today's game. He could shoot long range, defend the perimeter, and handle the ball.

[@jingqi9106]

I saw the great Rick Barry play and he's as good as any wing player in history and yes, that includes Lebron and Larry Legend and I'm a big fan of both those players. Barry could score with anybody ever and was also a GREAT all around player because he was an elite passer, rebounder (pre knee injuries), and had as high a basketball IQ as anybody ever, that's how good he was. Too often people classify him as the guy that shot underhand free throws or jumped to the ABA or sometimes acted like John McEnroe. But to do that distracts from his greatness as one of the best ever. The year he led the warriors to the chip was a masterpiece of a season but the players were voting for MVP and they gave the MVP to McAdoo. Barry was not popular with opponents because he had Jordan level competitiveness and was not afraid to tell teammates, refs and opens what he thought. But Barry DID play team basketball and was amazing.

[@juicethreetwo]

lebron and larry both get the edge. either one could dominate the boards, block shots and get alot of rebounds on any given game. Rick was great and i saw him play alot in his prime, especially when he was with the aba nets. he didnt have their power, he wouldnt have blocked igoudala's shot like lebron did, he was a better shooter than lbj but lbj can score w rick, and of course bird even better than barry as a shooter scorer, rebounder etc.

[@jingqi9106]

@@juicethreetwo I disagree. I saw prime Barry when he had good knees and he was actually a better rebounder than Lebron, look it up. As a passer in both leagues, he was elite as well but his teams needed his scoring and play making. Rick was a better scorer than both Lebron and Larry, just as good a passer, and before his knee injuries, just as good a rebounder as Larry. Post injuries he still was fast tho and always quick. He wasn't as strong or as physical as Lebron going to the lane but he still scored very well in the paint. I put Rick on the same level as Larry and Bron and all three were unique players with different strengths.

[@luvlgs1]

one of the first to argue EVERY call against him. most of the time back then, players would look at the scorer's table and raise their hand. in today's game, everybody complains everytime. different times. they had more fights back then too...

[@jamesbarry6979]

That all True!

[@donaldf9055]

I would say that any NBA great or legend can compete with any other NBA legend for example, Jayson Tatum can be better than Luka at any given night. Embiid has been better than jokic in all of their match ups, and Jerry West has been the best player in most final matchups of the Celtics vs Lakers.

[@tom7471]

I was a kid when Rick Barry played at the University of Miami. I went to watch him at a home game (the Hurricanes were playing Loyola of New Orleans). My dad and I got to the game a few minutes late and it wasn't until very late in the game after Rick had scored his 43rd and 44th points that someone next to us said that's the first time Barry had smiled all night, 'after knocking that guy out in the first minute of the game'. I read the next day where he had done just that and that the refs had completely missed the action (I don't know how). He had a real temper for sure and he probably lost the NCAA Player Of The Year honor to Bill Bradley (Princeton) for things like that. But no one in my lifetime has ever made the game look any smoother, no one had a prettier jump shot. He was so very poetic. He was a great slasher before his knee surgery. No one could guard him. I think the year they won the NBA title one of his Warrior teammates (I think it was Jeff Mullins or Phil Smith) said that all season long it seemed Barry could have scored 50 points anytime he wanted. He was just that good. I think he was a top three small forward along with Larry Legend and LeBron. I am not sure in what order. I also loved Dr. J at that position and many, many others (Dominique, Elgin Baylor, John Havlicek, and even Durant--I'm sure there are a couple of more I've left out here). But Barry was incredible, even amongst that bunch.

[@senseichess8688]

He was great in all aspects of the game a superstar..should be on anyones top 30 player all time list

[@mattsharkey8437]

One of the greatest minds in NBA history. Can listen to him talk all day

[@ronbonora7872]

yes this great mind stated that Wilt Chamberlain is the GOAT! He is absolutely correct on that point too!...Barry was a great player and does not get the respect he deserves!

[@jingqi9106]

When you consider the ability to score, pass, rebounding (pre knee injury), steals, and basketball IQ, Barry is arguably top 3 small forwards of all-time. I agree about his great basketball mind and he was so articulate and is my fave color commentator ever.

[@nomikes4392]

I was an NBA freak in 1974. A Sonic fan transplanted to Sacramento. Got all the Warrior games on TV. I couldn't count how many clutch/game winning shots this guy made that year. You came to expect it. I never liked the guy but he was just that good

[@luvlgs1]

i watched every game the year they won the championship

[@luvlgs1]

of course back then, the games weren't all on tv.i followed every game by reading the sporting green in the san francisco chronicle, and the great radio team of bill king and hank greenwald. great memories. saw them play at civic center (?) where they raised the chandeliers and dimmed the lights just before tip-off

[@naplessteve9445]

Great analysis and perspective. I grew up watching the "Miami greyhound" and loved his game. Complete player with a complete skills set as you have outlined. Just like Jerry West. No question he would be a leader in any era.

[@jingqi9106]

I watched Barry too and he was so competitive, much like West, Jordan, and Kobe. Rick was so fast and quick for his height 6'8" (shoes on like everybody was measured after '73) and he had such a high basketball IQ to go with his skills. I always looked forward to watch him play.

[@katylied24]

Rick Barry passed the ball. stole the ball, and shot free throws as well as any small forward that's ever played. In addition, he was one of the best scorers in NBA history and a phenomenal Finals performer. That should put his career in perspective.

[@tms9995]

Everybody respected Rick Barry and as good as advertised, thumbs up.

[@bartonpercival2147]

I had season tickets in 1975 at the then Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Complex. Saw Rick Barry play. He had a great basketball IQ, and was a great passer and scorer. Great at the free throw line, and a very underrated defender.

[@JamesBond-ts3xl]

I saw several games that year there as well.....still my favorite Bay Area championship team... Beating the heavily favored Bullets in the Finals was really an amazing feat...and they deserved to win. That whole team came together and played smothering defense in the playoffs.

[@bartonpercival2147]

James Bond Yes me too. I loved that championship team. I rode the Bart train from SF to many of that years games at The Coliseum, and the games I couldn’t attend, I’d listen to the great Bill King on the radio calling the games. “Holy Toledo” great memories!!!! Then 40 years later Steph & Klay win it again for The Bay!!!!!!!!

[@rosrebel]

Rick Barry was an absolutely a legend ......and hey how good a team mate was Jordan ......enough said ....

[@Real843BabySkii]

Got him 6 rings … nuff said

[@markjackson6431]

the man literally could’ve won another chip but decided to be spiteful.....that’s hilarious! love Barry! love doing the Granny shot!

[@samanello3382]

I'm from the Bay Area and I saw Barry play many times and theres no doubt he doesn't get the recognition he deserves. A vastly underrated player who in 74-75 season had one of the best years I've ever seen anyone have, and I believe still finished 4th in MVP voting. I think that's when the players voted and they didn't like him much

[@hands190]

I saw Rick Barry play for the Nets in 70-71 and 71-72 and watched him carry a team of nobodies to win the 1975 NBA championship against the Washington Bullets with Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld. If television coverage back then was as extensive as it is today, Barry would be rated as one of the top ten players to ever play in the NBA. He was an excellent shooter, great passer, and elevated bad teams by his court vision and understanding of the game. He was as good as Bird and much quicker but wasn’t surrounded by as much talent. If Barry played in today’s era, he would average over 30 points per game with his great outside shooting and quickness. It’s also likely that his knee problems would have been more effectively treated by modern orthopedic surgical advances, which would also add to his greatness and longevity. The only negative was his personality which irked many people including his sons, but didn’t affect his performance on the court on which he made average players look much better than their abilities. He also doesn’t receive enough credit for challenging the reserve clause and missed a season in his prime because of it. Overall, a unique talent way ahead of his time who is one of the most underrated superstars because of his many teams and personality. A definite top 10 all time NBA player.

[@Amick44]

Excellent take on Rick.

[@ericmnr]

Thanks for this video it was easy to show the greatness of him. Definitely a top 10 all time SF.

[@jamcam2760]

"Pistol Pete" Maravich is another great one from a bygone era.

[@Mistachill]

Highly overrated!

[@ronbonora7872]

@@Mistachill ah I don't think so! LOL

[@mstunny3575]

Pete was a magician with the ball and put up BIG #s! Watched score 69 on Clyde & earl at the garden. He was not a winner like Rick Barry. Rick Barry was DOMINANT! GOT A COUPLE OF HIS BBALL CARDS FROM THE 70s!

[@Mistachill]

@@mstunny3575 Actually the game was in the Superdome. Clyde (who was no longer an all-defense level guard by then) only played 18 minutes and Pearl, never considered great defensively even in his prime, only played 27 minutes. Still, 68 points in an NBA game is mind blowing no matter who it's against.

[@oldsensei8350]

Yes sir

[@gurujr]

As a very young kid I remember Rick Barry and the Golden State Warriors just edging one of my favorite Chicago Bulls teams in the 1975 playoffs. Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier were the backcourt with center Nate Thurmond and Chet Walker and Bob Love at the forwards. It was the last go around for that veteran Bulls team. Rick Barry was that good. It seemed like every clutch shot Barry would shoot he would make. Heartbreaker.

[@significantnobody823]

As usual....awesome vid with great insight. If barry played in today's league I think he'd average about 30 ppg. Can you please do one on Elvin Hayes

[@denisceballos9745]

Educational for me; did not know this about Rick Barry. I knew he won an NBA title in 1975 against a tough Washington Bullets team. Dude was good! Thanks for your post.

[@christiankeil7845]

Saw him in Giessen, Germany when he visited his son who played there. He shot a few free throws during halftime, amazing.

[@jamesbarry6979]

Great..

[@toriedavis4403]

Was just discussing the elder Berry, with my youngest brother last week. He didn’t know much about him, although he loves basketball. I told him that Rick was highly underrated and I didn’t know why, until now. Thanks for the video!

[@richardwinckel383]

I saw him play a number of times including pickup games at Hofstra University when he was with the Nets. He was a beast. He did whatever he wanted to in those pickup games. My two guys for classic jump shot form are Barry and West. West has said Barry was Bird before Bird. His passing and court smarts were greatly unappreciated.

[@jamesbarry6979]

You know your Basketball*

[@oldmanballer5088]

Could he really pass that well or did he not pass that much. He seemed more like a volume shooter than an all round player. Sure he could shoot and rebound but I never saw him pass it like Bird. As you can see by his stats his passing isn’t really that close. I caught his last 5 yrs or so so maybe I didn’t see him in his prime.I always thought Kobe was as close to Barry as anyone. Similar styles except Kobe was a little more athletic/ leaper!

[@jamesbarry6979]

@@oldmanballer5088 no he was a Great Passer,. Probably Best outside Shooter of all time, But just average on Defense!

[@richardwinckel383]

@@oldmanballer5088 Unfortunately there isn't a lot of video around but having seen him in person a number of times he was a much better than average passer.No look passes, going up for the jumper and whipping it inside to a teammate.

[@Amick44]

@@jamesbarry6979 he improved steadily on D over the years. Especially when he returned from the ABA for his second stint at GS. He said himself early in his career, he felt more important to his team on offense. So he would relax at times on defense. As he got older, he said he would go all out on defense and occasionally take it easy on offense.

[@darrell9616]

Another well-researched piece. Mad talented to be sure. You have to respect someone who is willing to stand up for what they believe in despite the repercussions.

[@randysandberg5615]

He led the NCAA, ABA, and NBA in scoring. He was way ahead of his time. He never took time off for "load management". Read his biography. He was making $38,000 a year and led the NBA in scoring. The Warriors offered him a $5,000 raise to $43,000 a year, which Rick considered an insult. He sat out the next year, and eventually played in the ABA before returning to the NBA. Most of us never saw him play. A few of us were fortunate to see him play. I rank him in the top 10 all time.

[@GABRIELA-ACEVEDO.]

I put him in Golden State Warriors Mt. Rushmore along with Steph, Klay, and Chris Mullin

[@mahomes_lover1584]

Where Wilt

[@GABRIELA-ACEVEDO.]

@@mahomes_lover1584 he was more a Philadelphia Warrior

[@juicethreetwo]

he was much better than Mullin. He'd be a 3rd splash brother today, true great.

[@AceMcSch00ly]

I'd remove Klay for Tim Hardaway

[@jpmnky]

Chris Mullin is one of the most overlooked stars in NBA/NCAA history.

[@Tehcheesemaster]

Thank you for this video I was just getting into learning more about Barry, who I am mostly unfamiliar with! This video had perfect timing for me! Another great and insightful video!

[@jamesbarry6979]

Greatest ? Shooter? Ever?....

[@orlandofielder4461]

I definitely would rank Slick Rick as a top 5 all time small forward. I care less about his jealous teammates and their gripes. I saw him play. His defense was better than people give him credit for.

[@robert06taylor]

Rick is easily in the the top twenty basketball players of all-time, probably in the top 10.

[@jingqi9106]

Agreed!

[@dgtom]

No. Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, Kareem, Magic, Dr J, Wilt, Russell, West, and Robertson ahead of him.

[@fatality1249]

Not even close to top 10 to be honest😂 not top 20 either. probably top 35

[@robert06taylor]

How would you know? I bet you never saw him play!

[@fatality1249]

@@robert06taylor because you can rank players based on stats, resume/accomplishments, and impact. Look I meant no disrespect to you or him, he’s an all time great but I just don’t think there’s a case for him to be top 10, when the 10th best player is probably someone like curry or Larry bird

[@kxrv6629]

Great video. I remember Rick Barry’s playing days. But did not know the backstory. The final game with the fight and players not coming to his aid was sure telling...

[@seyiolotu1708]

Rick Barry was both tenacious and a perfectionist giving him the traits of a great player.

[@chadcas]

Very “Mamba” like.

[@seyiolotu1708]

@@chadcasYeah precisely!

[@daveforeman6931]

Have always been a fan of Rick Barry. That championship Warriors team was great.

[@ifeelgodbrown3739]

Rick Barry needs respect. Great stats he's overshadow.

[@youtuber3328]

rick barry was better than vince carter dirk nowitzki lebron james kobe bryant kevin garnett reggie miller tim duncan david robinson scottie pippen + so on

[@youtuber3328]

@Bruce Doub okay i will literally never agree that tim duncan was better than Rick barry

[@youtuber3328]

@Bruce Doub my all-time team would be oscar robertson michael jordan magic johnson bill russell and wilt chamberlain

[@youtuber3328]

@Bruce Doub ok

[@youtuber3328]

@Bruce Doub I appreciate your honesty but magic johnson could play all 5 positions but he wasn't quite as elite as michael jordan oscar robertson kareem abdul-jabbar wilt chamberlain + bill russell

[@profrob9017]

Look at the placement of his hands on the free throw shot. They are near the top of the ball and Barry used them to place spin on the ball. It's not simply an underhanded shot that my coach in 6th grade asked me to try since I wasn't getting the ball to the basket. He was an excellent shot and he would be nailing three-pointers today.

[@inthepaint2907]

BARRRYYYYY, we might do a video on this beast soon too!

[@yansonfilpo1818]

He's definitely top 20 NBA players of all time. Definitely top for his position

[@oldsensei8350]

Your right

[@jameshar9592]

this was before the 3-point line in the NBA. He was amazing.

[@capitanfuturo594]

*UNDERRATED PLAYER !!!* Rick Barry was amazing basketball player.

[@rileymcauley6994]

You should do one on bob peti or Wes unseld

[@Maximillian200HP]

I don't think I've EVER seen a Bob Petit video and I only saw a couple on Wes Unseld after he died.

[@Milbrandt]

Agreed, Bob Pettit was OP. He is the PF with most career ppg AND rpg.

[@youtuber3328]

wes unseld was better than clyde drexler

[@youtuber3328]

the michael jordan led bulls beat the blazers 4-2 in round 4 of 92 + the bullets led by wes unseld were swept in the finals by the bucks led by kareem abdul-jabbar

[@youtuber3328]

bob pettit literally always has + will be the #11 best player ever

[@earlismarks7108]

Rick Barry was one of a kind...truly a great player..IQ through the roof...

[@deniserife7694]

Rick Barry was an Aries, their extremely competetive and driven

[@edwinjones1000]

Rick Barry is the ONLY player to lead the NCAA, ABA & NBA in scoring. He did it playing in 3 vastly different styles of basketball ( stall, up-tempo & half court, respectively ). Everybody knew he was a mid range scorer but he was as unstoppable as Kareem's Sky Hook. I have him on my all-time 1st team with Kareem, Magic, Bird, and Oscar Robertson. I know some of you out there are ready to kick my a**, but you have to grow up seeing him to believe what he did.

[@charliebecknell9830]

Watching Barry play I always felt he was unstoppable one on one. Excellent ball handler, great perimeter shooter, outstanding going to the basket, and if fouled, money in the bank. Crowd him he goes by, back off , deadly jump shot.

[@edwinjones1000]

@@charliebecknell9830 Yep. He doesn't get recognition because he wasn't flashy. The most underrated player ever.

[@spactick]

Barry is in that league with Jerry West, Bird, Jordan, any of them, he's that great

[@Amick44]

Yes he is.

[@spactick]

@@Amick44 I don't understand why he's not mentioned along with the greats of his era. Maybe he doesn't promote himself? I think he was actually better than Jerry West. And I think West would agree

[@Amick44]

@@spactick well while i feel he is certainly in their category, i would give West an edge. A better defender throughout his career, a near one of a kind clutch shooter. I will say Rick, like Magic & Larry, steadily improved (esp passing & defense) throughout his career. And like Kareem & Robert Parish, Rick didn't grease the company wheels, so to speak, like FAR lesser players who have stayed in the game as coaches or team officials.

[@spactick]

@@Amick44 ya, your right, he was (unfortunately) kind of a selfish player, but he did stay with the game in area of broadcasting. I'm here in Frisco and he was on I believe KNBR a local sports channel adding color to the games. Keep in Mick, Barry had a hot temper and he held a grudge against people who wronged him, and that may have been some of the reasons he didn't come back like other players and follow up with coaching or other things

[@spactick]

@Mitchell D I pretty much agree with everything you said, altho you can't compare Barry to Russell or Isiah because they played different positions. Barry was a forward and Russell was the Celts center. That's why saying this or that guy is the GOAT is nonsense because each position has a completely different role to play. But your right Barry's personality probably has had a lot to do with people not having him in the same conversation as Magic or Bird etc; simply because of who he was. But people who follow the game know and appreciate Barry as one of the truly great players of his era. I live here in San Francisco and saw him play many many times over the years

[@Nagy50Magyar]

Barry did not quit on his teammates in 1976; they quit on him. After they refused to help him in a fight, he played hard and distributed the ball well, but showed that without his elite scoring, his faithless teammates were not even playoff-worthy.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

You nailed it! Unlike 1975, there were too many passengers. The series was lost in Games 4 and 6 in Phoenix.

[@butter1ftw724]

Wilt said Rick is almost impossible to stop. (I dont remember the exact quote)

[@youtuber3328]

my #1 tied favorite male athletes/jocks ever are + were wilt chamberlain + bill russell

[@jamesbarry6979]

I forgotten about that*. Thanks

[@ronbonora7872]

when Wilt says that it is a massive statement as Wilt could stop everyone one on one!

[@casualfandestroyer2503]

@@ronbonora7872 The Celtics also ran the pick-and-roll over and over again, freeing up Sam Jones and John Havlicek for open jumpers as Wilt again showed himself reluctant to leave the paint and cover the shooters who had been freed by Russell picks. Alex Hannum screamed from the sidelines for Wilt to switch, but to no avail as Jones, Havlicek, and point guard Larry Siegfried combined for 61 points. - The Rivalry

[@anhiirr]

@@casualfandestroyer2503 yeah his ego stopped him from being scored on lol.......while losing. he was one of the first......."well they didnt score on me" they scored on my team......"GREATS" if not the first to bring that level of accountability to the table.....thus needing a ring to back up all of his effort. His style of play fit the lakers Brand though. Id like to see tape of him vs baylor but unfortunately due to the path of barrys career they were not able to cross paths as much as us ball fans wished they could have. That would have been a duel for the ages. BC their games werent the same both played defense and with a strong passion for the game. I wish i could have seen playoff tape of them dueling.

[@michaelpowers3053]

I saw him score 51 again the Sixers when Dr J (scored 34) first came to the NBA. Hit his first 6 jumpers. Electric player, when he got hot he was impossible to stop. One or the greatest small forwards who ever lived.

[@michaelangileo2760]

One of the best forwards in basketball history !!! - 24

[@deniserife7694]

I saw Rick Barry while at the top of the key throw a dead eye behind-the-back pass to a teammate on the baseline, it got there in a second. Such amazing accuracy a strength!

[@jamesbarry6979]

Correct*

[@benhenderson8952]

Lmao I remember back in 2016 with all the Warriors bandwagon hype days, they’d show this dude & ask the fake fans “do you know who this player is?”

[@tellthetruthg]

Ben Henderson I’d like to know what a fake fan is? Is it someone that buys a ticket beers and a hot dog only ? W.s was a hot ticket when they sucked . Are no fake fans in Oaktown. Rest of the country idk .

[@benhenderson8952]

tellthetruthg Well I guess subjectively, the definition of a fake fan within the NBA would be that of a person who “bandwagons” whoever is the most superior team despite that person having no single affiliations with that said team. In this case, 2016, the Warriors were that superior team especially in 2017 when they had KD (Kevin Durant) join them via free agency. Basically, ur a fake fan by having to just recently follow that team. Therefore, u most likely know damn well nothing about that franchise/team hence “a fake fan”

[@cyrillesu]

And the fake fans would be like: 😯

[@j.w.matney8390]

Confuse the fake fans even more-show photos of Jeff Mullins, Al Attles, Gus Johnson, Sleepy Floyd and I would bet many so called fans would not know who these guys are. There are plenty of lame Bay Area fans. I went to many games at the Cow Palace. I've won multiple beers when people bet me that the 49ers did not play at Kezar Stadium. Good times.

[@benhenderson8952]

The Gumby Chronicles Truly memories to cherish

[@williewaset]

Rick Barry is a top 10 forward. Do not forget to mention his competitive drive. It was on par with anybody. He did what you needed him to do. If you needed him to play power forward he did, if you needed him to rebound, he did. If his shot was off he would find another way to beat you. People just didn't like his personality on the court. He would irritate people to get himself pumped up.

[@satamanschmidt3428]

The Dude was a monster. One of the best of all time. I'd put him up there with Larry Bird and Jerry West as the best white guy of all time in the NBA.

[@justice929]

YES, WAS THERE, WEST MY IDOL.

[@haroldsmith4056]

Yea Barry was right there with Jerry and Larry his sons were very good

[@luvlgs1]

i was gonna say the pistol, but he's not up there with those 3...

[@justice929]

BILL WALTON TOP 5 CENTER EVER BUT ALWAYS HURT. BEST COLLEGE PLAYER EVER THOUGH. DON'T FORGET DIRK NOWITZKI AND NOW LUKA. THESE WHITE GUYS TRANSCEND RACE.

[@justice929]

OH, FORGOT STEVE NASH 2 MVP'S .

[@Joscope]

I remember him when I was a little kid and he was absolutely one of the best ever.

[@rezarfar]

Come on now, it really doesn't matter how much you dislike your teammate, if he's having a scrap with someone not apart of your team, you back the guy up. Especially if that teammate is your best player and you need him to win the game. What Rick Barry did was childish but those teammates of his were dick heads too.

[@earlismarks7108]

Right...

[@bigkahuna4826]

His teammates were total A-holes. He carried them all season and then they blow him off. What more proof do you need?

[@earlismarks7108]

I can remember going to games we would hang out above where players parked and walked in...we cheered and talked back and forth with them ...Man Rick would get there pretty early and sit in his car and wait to everybody else went in...He got there first and went in last we were so impressed by that...lol..He was the big star but thevfirst man there...He was the last one to stroll in but he was the star right?...so he did not have be the first player to get to the game yet he made a point to do just that..

[@rezarfar]

@G23Farrakhan52 this maybe true, he does seem like an insufferable git, but my point still stand, during the game they left him out to hang, didn't back him up. Now whatever their reasons for doing that, it cost them the game and another Ring. You can't not be kicking yourself after that. In my opinion the Teammates look just as bad as him, they didn't back him up then they have the audacity to expect him to carry them to another Championship.

[@benthekeeshond545]

@@rezarfar I think Rick's as...holes teammates never acknowledged or appreciated what Rick did for the team. Many of them thought they could have won the championship without him. Only the Warriors coach, Al Attles, knew that Rick was the player that carried the team. Traded Butch Beard was a mistake. Butch was not as quick but he did his job as a point guard that controlled the flow of the game. I was shocked as to why the Warriors traded Butch and eventually broke the chemistry of a championship team. Also, even Nate Thurmond never really appreciated Rick as his teammate. Rick is among the best offensive players ever. A prime Rick Barry can shoot, penetrates, and passes the ball to an open teammate. Once a prime MJ or KB decided to attack the rim, they never have the ability to pass the ball. A prime Rick Barry, besides Wilt Chamberlain, is the best offensive basketball player ever.

[@garrison6863]

A great player. His all around game was just superb for that position. I didn't know about that fight with Sobers. Thanks for that.

[@dugrigm4796]

Great player but also his own worst enemy it seems. Coulda been a back to back champ.

[@vincejaspertasan9140]

I cant blame him though. If my team mates does not care about me, i will lose my will to win.

[@montreljones3260]

As a warriors fan i am still salty about that

[@vincejaspertasan9140]

@@montreljones3260 Its good to know a loyal warriors fan man. I'm from phillipines and every gs fans here only knows steph curry 😦

[@montreljones3260]

@@vincejaspertasan9140 i have only been a warrior fan since 2018 (i am 11years) with high basketball knowledge. I feel bad for knicks fans bc i never had really seen ur favorite team finished with the last seed and traded alex Burks (great for us) and D'Angelo Russell

[@MyfaultGango]

He sell the game against suns (who had no all star) because of his team disliking him if he won in back to back he’s teammates would be a little bit more Nice

[@MyDixieNormis]

Rick Barry is one of those players like jerry west that would REALLY have benefited from having a three point line when he played

[@brandonw6139]

He was awesome definitely a forgotten star

[@NuclearCarnivore]

I always loved the voice of Rick Barry as a commentator. Extremely articulate and knowledgeable. Got to the point right away.

[@floridagator1765]

He was really good. I was a little kid when they played Hayes and Unsel in the NBA championship. He ALWAYS ran his mouth and was controversial.

[@jingqi9106]

Barry was sooo competitive! He was articulate too so he knew just what to say to piss his opponents off. 😂

[@peterwinkler4934]

Rick was a phenomenal scorer and super heady all-around player. Just based on the numbers, he's a top 20-25 NBA all-time great.

[@ddenuci]

Re. the Game 7 against the Suns where Barry refused to shoot for a large part of the 2nd half (7:03), Barry was benched by his coach for the start of the 4th quarter, and the Warriors took the lead. Toward the end of the game, while it was still close, Barry started taking shots. But it was too little, too late. The Suns won 94-86 and Barry led the Warriors with 20 points. It was odd that his teammates didn't rush to his aid during the fight with Sobers (wasn't much of a fight), but even more amazing is that his coach Al Attles wasn't out there. Remember what Attles did when Mike Riordan took a cheap shot at Barry in the 1974-75 Finals? The Destroyer was ready to attack Riordan, and was only stopped doing so because Wes Unseld held him back.

[@charleslu7044]

John, Riordan actually said to Wes that he was gonna start a fight and get them both thrown out. He told Wes to watch his back because he was deathly afraid of “the Destroyer”. Al could have killed Ricky Sobers...

[@RayManzarekRocks]

Unlike the previous year, the scuffle took place away from the ball at the opposite side of the Warriors bench. Few players were in the area. Attles might have been ejected if he had strayed that far, and you don't want to play a Game 7 without your head coach.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

The scuffle took place behind the play, which was headed the other way. It also happened across from the Warriors bench on the opposite side of the court. It happened so quickly, almost nobody noticed it until several seconds after the fact. Barry also led the Warriors in points and shot attempts that game. So the better question is, did his teammates quit on themselves? They made a bunch of uncharacteristic mistakes -- C. Johnson missed a uncontested layup, Ray fumbled a pass out of bounds on a pick-and-roll play, Ray had the ball stolen from behind near mid-court, which led to a dunk the other way . . .

[@lannydante9390]

I watched every game in 1975 - Barry was awesome! I loved your post -

[@dantean]

In answer to the question, he was certainly an all-time great. As a person, however, I have long heard that he was an angry asshole and that teammates rarely liked him, as evidenced by no one coming to his aid in that brawl that time. One of his two NBA-playing sons--Brett, I think--is said to have inherited a lot of Rick's persona, though was not in his league (pun intended) as a player and so couldn't get away with nearly as much prima donna behavior as dad did. Of course, few human beings have EVER been in Rick Barry's league as a player.

[@johnderfler5183]

I heard a story about RB, that he set his self at the free throw line, put on a blindfold and hit ten free throws in a row, as his underhand stroke never changed. Pretty amazing as a lot of players today can't hit 10 in a row with no blindfold.

[@1teela]

Rick Barry could have played at any time. Did not seem very pleasant, but he was an all time great, and could have played now.

[@jingqi9106]

Agreed. He didn't seem pleasant because he was super competitive and all business. Barry played the right way tho.

[@Amick44]

@@jingqi9106same was said of Kobe, too. They were all business on the court.

[@michaeljordan6008]

He’s right. He’d be a perennial all star in any era. His championship season was amazing.

[@jamesbarry6979]

Correct

[@RLSmith-jt8qj]

Old heads used to say when it came to the sf position it was Baylor, Barry and Bird.

[@mattn6591]

Yep , Nate Thurmond himself said the best three Forwards: Baylor, Barry , Bird

[@angrymobsters1599]

Rick Barry cleared the story on the wcf situation in his podcast. Whether you believe him or not. He said that he was trying to actually win that game, i believe one of the media members at the time hated him and built that story to make him look like a bitch. He is genuinely still pissed that he lost. I really doubt no matter how much of a sensitive person you can be he wouldnt purposely do something like that to lose. Rick Barry had the psychotic competitive juice like Jordan,West, Bird did. I doubt he would have thrown his competitive spirit and a chance to win a second title.

[@jpmnky]

1990's teenager - Oh yeah! That guy is Jon and Brent's dad!

[@donwhiteley3293]

Hey, don't forget Drew!

[@jamesbarry6979]

Lol.. Correct... College Hoop Fan!

[@pgroove163]

A scoring machine... boom boom boom from the outside... anywhere on the court

[@ericveneto1593]

His OTHER problem: being WIDELY disliked

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

He also took a huge amount of heat from the press, which vilified him as the symbol of the spoiled modern athlete without loyalty. Today we'd just call him a free agent.

[@Amick44]

@@daveconleyportfolio5192 no question. And the sainted Julius Erving forced 2 trades and NEVER took any heat. Rick & Spencer Haywood were "bad" guys. In the press anyhow. Though Spencer suing the league didn't help.

[@Amick44]

@@benjaminpease5297 superb observation. Especially in Kobe's case early in his career, he had much to overcome image-wise.

[@swedenoble6083]

Now you guys be kind to Rick he was the first man to come out with his own hair club for men but it failed 🤭😳😉

[@reedermh]

At the time he also portrayed himself as a devout Christian. Which given his self-centeredness probably made him more disliked. Similar to Dwight Howard who also portrayed himself as such notwithstanding his multiple out-of-wedlock children.

[@margaretmaskara9002]

I am a huge Rick Barry fan, but I really don't remember the Ricky Sobers fight and Rick's tanking the second half. I do remember them losing when everyone thought they would win that series.

[@JamesBond-ts3xl]

Sobers tried to get Rick kicked out of the game....cheap shot artist.

[@ShangoDC]

Greater than Larry Bird. A very serious player one of NBA greats.

[@emekaamerican863]

so many old school players I would love to see play in the modern era.