Ron Wyden
United States senator from Oregon
Rick Barry was a legendary American basketball player who dominated at the NCAA, ABA, and NBA levels. He is known for his prolific scoring, unorthodox underhand free throw technique, and being the only player to lead all three leagues in points per game in a single season. Rick Barry is a Basketball Hall of Famer and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
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About the Rick Barry
Richard Francis Dennis Barry IIIis an American retired professional basketball player who starred at the NCAA, American Basketball Associationand National Basketball Associationlevels. Barry ranks among the most prolific scorers and all-around players in basketball history. He is the only player to lead the National Collegiate Athletic Associationand postseasonplay, while his 36.3 points per game are the most in NBA Finals history.
Barry is widely known for his unorthodox underhand free throw technique. His career .880 free throw percentage ranks No. 1 in ABA history, and his .900 percentage was the best of any NBA player at the time of his retirement in 1980. In 1987, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1996, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. In October 2021, Barry was honored as one of the league’s greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Barry is the father of former professional basketball players Brent Barry, Jon Barry, Drew Barry, and Scooter Barry, and current professional player Canyon Barry. His wife, Lynn Norenberg Barry, was a star basketball player at the College of William & Mary, where she became the first female athlete to have her jersey numberretired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rick Barry is one of the most prolific scorers and all-around players in basketball history. He is the only player to lead the NCAA, ABA, and NBA in points per game in a single season. He also holds the ABA record for highest scoring average in the regular season and playoffs.
Rick Barry is widely known for his unorthodox underhand free throw technique. His career .880 free throw percentage ranks number one in ABA history, and his .900 percentage was the best of any NBA player at the time of his retirement in 1980.
Rick Barry’s 36.3 points per game in the NBA Finals are the most in league history. He is also the only player to score at least 50 points in a Game 7 of the playoffs until Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum both reached that mark in 2023.
Rick Barry is the father of former professional basketball players Brent Barry, Jon Barry, Drew Barry, and Scooter Barry, as well as current pro player Canyon Barry. His wife, Lynn Norenberg Barry, was also a star basketball player in college.
Rick Barry was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987 and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. In 2021, he was honored as one of the league’s greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
3 Quotes by Rick Barry
- 1.
People who don’t know me have opinions about me. That’s the part that’s very hurtful. Because how do you form an opinion about somebody if you’ve never met them or spent any time with them? So it’s all based upon hearsay or things that they’ve read.
Rick BarryAmerican basketball player
- 2.
They have so fundamentally flawed techniques it’s ridiculous. They shoot the ball flat. They all stand upright, there’s just so many things they do incorrectly.
Rick BarryAmerican basketball player
- 3.
In life it wasn’t what you know, but who you know. I had people who were trying to buy teams and had they bought the teams, I would have gotten to coach because they wanted me to coach. But the people who have the teams hire their friends.
Rick BarryAmerican basketball player