NBA legend and HBCU trailblazer dies at 88

“Fallback, Baby.”

To generations of HBCU sports fans, those two words weren’t just a nickname — they were a declaration. A call to greatness. A legacy in motion. And now, that legacy says goodbye.

Dr. Dick Barnett, Tennessee A&I icon and New York Knicks champion, passed away in his sleep on April 26, 2025, in Largo, Florida, at the age of 88. With his passing, HBCU basketball loses one of its most enduring legends — a player whose path broke barriers and lifted communities far beyond the hardwood.

A Titan at Tennessee A&I

Before the glitz of Madison Square Garden, Barnett carved out one of the most dominant collegiate careers in HBCU history. Under Hall of Famer John McLendon, Barnett led Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) to three straight NAIA national championships from 1957–1959 — a feat no HBCU has matched since. Named All-American three times and tournament MVP twice, his scoring brilliance and fearless play made him the face of a program that helped put Black college basketball on the national map. His No. 35 jersey remains the only one ever retired by the university.

Champion and Clutch in the NBA

After stints with the Syracuse Nationals and L.A. Lakers, Barnett joined the Knicks in 1965 and helped lead the team to titles in 1970 and 1973. While the world remembers Willis Reed’s dramatic Game 7 entrance in the ’70 Finals, it was Barnett who poured in 21 points and guarded Jerry West in the Knicks’ first-ever championship win. He averaged over 18 points per game in that series and was a top-10 scorer leaguewide in multiple seasons. Known for his unorthodox jumper — a high-arching shot with a signature mid-air “fallback” — he gave defenders nightmares and fans memories.