Rick Barry

Lore & Background

Barry was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and grew up in Roselle Park. As a fifth-grader, he played with the varsity basketball team, for which his father Aldo served as coach. Baseball was his best sport and he was a fan of New York Giants superstar Willie Mays, who wore jersey number 24. Barry once skipped school to shake Mays's hand at the Polo Grounds. He wore the same number in tribute to Mays throughout his basketball career. In 1962, he graduated from Roselle Park High School. Barry fielded over 30 scholarship offers before choosing the University of Miami largely because the Hurricanes adhered to an up-tempo, pro-style system under head coach Bruce Hale. There he met his future wife Pamela, who was the daughter of the head coach. Barry averaged 19.0 points and 14.6 rebounds per game in his first season. As a junior, he averaged 32.2 points and 16.6 rebounds. In his senior season, he led the country with 37.4 points per game, the third-highest mark in NCAA history at the time. His 475 rebounds (18.3 per game) ranked No. 4 in the nation. The Hurricanes went 22–4 but were ineligible for the NCAA tournament due to probation. Barry finished his college career with 2,298 points (29.8 per game) in 77 appearances. In 1976, he was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame. His number 24 jersey is one of only two to have been retired by the university. Barry was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors with the second pick of the 1965 NBA draft. He won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 25.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in the 1965–66 season. He moved to the ABA's Oakland Oaks, signing for a salary of $75,000 along with 15 percent ownership of the Oaks and 5 percent of gate receipts above $600,000. The courts ordered Barry to sit out the 1967–68 season for the Oaks. Barry was one of the first American professional athletes to bring a court action against a major league, though earlier cases like the Federal League case in 1915 predate his. In his ABA debut with the Oaks in 1968–69, he averaged a league-high

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with tension during the final minute of Game 5. Sweat dripped onto the hardwood as Barry dribbled near the top of the key. The crowd held its breath, knowing he had to sink the free throw to seal the victory. He bounced the ball twice, adopted his signature stance, and released the arc. Swish. The net snapped, echoing through the Nassau Coliseum like a declaration of dominance.

Reader's Guide

Rick Barry played for the New York Nets only during the 1970–71 and 1971–72 seasons. He did not play for the Nets in the 1973–74 season and was not part of the 1974 ABA championship team. The source does not mention any 1974 ABA Finals involvement by Barry. Barry did not lead both the NBA and ABA in scoring while with the Nets; the source states he led the ABA in scoring in the 1970–71 season (29.4 points per game) but does not say he led the NBA in scoring during his Nets tenure.

Did You Know?

• Rick Barry is the only player to lead the NCAA, ABA, and NBA in points per game in a season.
• Barry's 36.3 points per game are the most in NBA Finals history.
• He was the first American professional athlete to bring a court action against a major league, preceding Curt Flood's challenge.
• Barry scored 52 points in Game 7 of the 1970 Western Division semifinals, still the most points in a seventh and deciding game in professional basketball history.
• His number 24 jersey is one of only two retired by the University of Miami.

Franchise Origins and Venue Struggles

Established in 1967 as a founding member of the American Basketball Association, this franchise began under owner Arthur J. Brown with ambitions to play in Manhattan's 69th Regiment Armory. However, pressure from the established New York Knicks forced the venue to withdraw just months before opening day, leaving the team scrambling for a home. Unable to secure suitable locations within New York City due to bookings or owners fearing retaliation from the Knicks, the franchise settled on the Teaneck Armory in New Jersey. Although officially named the New York Americans, they played as the New Jersey Americans during this initial period. The instability continued into their second season when a last-minute move to the Long Island Arena resulted in a forfeit against the Kentucky Colonels due to dangerous court conditions, including missing floorboards and uneven baskets. Following these early logistical nightmares and a failed attempt to relocate to Newark, the team remained on Long Island for its second year, eventually rebranding as the New York Nets to align with other local sports teams like the Mets and Jets.

The Rick Barry Era and Early Finals

After finishing last in their first season under the Nets moniker with dismal attendance, owner Roy Boe sought a superstar to revitalize the franchise. While an attempt to sign UCLA's Lew Alcindor failed after he chose the Milwaukee Bucks, the team successfully acquired All-Star guard Levern Tart, which helped them reach the playoffs for the first time in 1969–70. The true turning point arrived in 1970 when the Nets traded their number one draft pick and cash to the Virginia Squires to secure Rick Barry. Barry's arrival transformed the team immediately; they secured another playoff berth before moving into the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the 1971–72 season. Two years after his acquisition, Barry led the Nets to their first-ever ABA Finals appearance in 1972. Despite a strong effort, the franchise fell short against the Indiana Pacers, losing the series four games to two. Following this championship disappointment, Barry departed the team, sending the Nets into a rebuilding phase that saw them win only 30 games the following season.

Julius Erving and Championship Glory

The franchise found its ultimate identity in the mid-1970s after acquiring Julius Erving from the Virginia Squires during the 1973 off-season. Known affectionately as "Dr. J," Erving propelled the Nets to a franchise-record 55 victories, earning him the ABA's Most Valuable Player award and leading the team to their first championship by defeating the Utah Stars in the 1974 Finals. This success was not a fluke; the following season saw them set a new record with 58 wins, though they were eliminated early in the playoffs by the Spirits of St. Louis. The era was marked by tragedy on June 24, 1975, when forward Wendell Ladner died in an Eastern Air Lines crash near JFK Airport. Despite this loss, Erving led the team to another 55-win season and a second MVP award in 1976. In the final ABA championship series against the Denver Nuggets, the Nets orchestrated a massive fourth-quarter comeback from a 22-point deficit at Nassau Coliseum, clinching their second title in three years with decisive scoring from John Williamson.

Legacy of the ABA Years

The period between 1967 and 1976 defined the franchise's early identity through a rollercoaster of venue instability, roster turnover, and eventual championship dominance. Starting as the New Jersey Americans and evolving into the New York Nets, the team overcame significant obstacles, including hostile competition from the NBA and dangerous playing conditions that led to forfeits. The acquisition of stars like Rick Barry laid the groundwork for success, but it was Julius Erving who cemented their legacy with back-to-back championships in 1974 and 1976. These years established the team as a powerhouse capable of setting win records that still stand today. The tragic death of Wendell Ladner remains a somber footnote in this golden era, highlighting the human cost behind the statistics. Ultimately, these ABA years provided the foundation for the franchise's eventual entry into the NBA, carrying forward a history of resilience and high-flying basketball that would influence their future trajectory as they prepared to merge with the larger league.