Rick Barry Era
The first player to lead the Warriors to an NBA championship as Finals MVP.
Rick Barry was drafted by the Warriors in 1965 and became the 1966 NBA Rookie of the Year before leading the team to the 1967 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers. After four seasons in the ABA, he rejoined the Warriors in 1972 and powered them to their third championship in 1975, widely considered one of the biggest upsets in NBA history. Barry was named Finals MVP.
Quick Facts
- Finals mvp
- Rick Barry (1975); also Andre Iguodala (2015) and Kevin Durant (2017, 2018)
Lore & Background
Barry sat out the 1967–68 season and signed with the Oakland Oaks of the rival American Basketball Association, playing for them in 1968–69 before moving on to the Washington Caps and New York Nets, then returning to the Warriors in 1972. During his absence, the Warriors were no longer title contenders. After his return, the Warriors won the 1975 championship, sweeping the heavily favored Washington Bullets.
Reader's Guide
The 1974–75 Warriors finished with a 48–34 record, the best in the Western Conference, and were the No. 1 seed. They defeated the Washington Bullets in a four-game sweep in the Finals.
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