New York Knicks Legend Dick Barnett Dies at 88

Dick Barnett, Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion with the New York Knicks, has died at age 88. Barnett, remembered for his distinctive 'Fall Back Baby' jumper, played a pivotal role in the Knicks' only championship teams in 1970 and 1973 and had his No. 12 jersey retired by the franchise. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, capping a career that also included legendary collegiate success at Tennessee A&I, the first historically black university to win a national basketball title. Barnett's impact extended off the court as a professor, author, and founder of a nonprofit foundation. The Knicks and the basketball community paid tribute, underscoring his lasting influence both on and off the court. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at a senior living center in Florida.