By Evan Wechman

When NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry drove to the hoop or swiftly dished the ball off to his teammates for an easy shot, everyone took notice. The opposing defense understood they were trying to guard one of the most competitive and skilled players ever. There was no denying that the eight-time NBA All-Star was an absolute force on the court.

His remarkable career which spanned a decade in the NBA, and a few years previously in the ABA,culminated with a championship in 1975 as he led the Golden State Warriors to an unexpected sweep over the Washington Bullets. He was named the MVP of the NBA Championship as he averaged 29.5 points per game during the series.

Barry, who now lives out of state, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and grew up in Roselle Park where he came from modest beginnings, but realized quickly that he had a knack and a drive for sports. It was in the gyms, schools, and driveway of his home that he began learning the game of basketball which eventually led him to the 1975 NBA championship. 

Barry said that winning the championship is the primary event which stands out more than any other accomplishment when he thinks back about his career. Though he respects all his achievements, he believes that the championship victory was the icing on the cake for him, and a memory he still holds close to his heart.

However, he understands this was not a solo effort. According to Barry, everything he accomplished he owes to his family, and those who took an interest in developing his talent.

“I owe everything to my father,” Barry said. “He was a semi-pro player and coach. He played semi pro basketball and was a really good basketball player and athlete, and he’s the one that taught me the fundamentals of the game and laid the foundation to be built on. And then from that point forward, I learned from a lot of people, my older brother, Dennis, and my college coach, Bruce Hale, and then other coaches I had along the way.” 

Bruce Hale, Barry’s coach at the University of Miami, developed a fast-paced offense that fit Barry’s speed and competitive drive. 

However, Barry, who has been successful in his current business career as well as a broadcaster since his retirement, could easily have become a professional baseball player if things had been different.

Baseball was Barry’s primary sport as a teenager, though he competed at a high level at basketball as well. Most coaches that worked with him thought he stood a great chance at having a future as a baseball player. 

Barry stated that his passion for baseball and the way he played was driven by one of the greatest players in baseball history. That player was Willie Mays. According to Barry, he enjoyed watching him immensely and admired his work ethic.

“I was a better baseball player in high school, and Willie Mays was my hero,” he said.

Barry’s talent and passion for the sport led him to star in center field during his time at Roselle Park High School. He also transitioned to first base and pitched as well.

However, as gifted as he was at baseball, Barry felt something was missing. He loved competing at both sports, but after much thought, concluded that basketball was a better fit for him.

Barry added that though he loved baseball, his great energy aligned more with basketball since he felt there was more action in the game. 

Similar to baseball and his admiration for Mays, as Barry developed into an all-around basketball player who could do many different things on the court, another athlete caught his eye. This time it was the NBA great, Elgin Baylor.

Like Barry, Baylor played small forward and was great at all facets of the game. Naturally, Barry wanted to play like him.

“He was athletic, the way he handled the ball, drove to the basket, shot it. He was my guy in basketball,” Barry said.

This love for Baylor’s style and the up-tempo game of basketball led Barry to want to play basketball after he graduated Roselle Park High School in 1962. He fielded multiple basketball scholarship offers before landing with Coach Hale at the University of Miami, who Barry credits as one of the pioneers of his development.

His love of basketball never waned from that point as he shined on the court during his professional career, and remains a passionate fan today. 

Though there have been changes to the game, Barry said he still believes that the fundamentals of the sport and good coaching are what leads teams to championships today.

One source of contention for Barry is that he feels his intense drive to win has caused some members of the media to misunderstand his character.  He takes things to heart, and saysthat many of these commentators don’t understand him.

The Hall of Famer believes that because he was so driven to win on the court, his critics off the court believe that is all there is to him. However, Barry said they are definitely mistaken.

“I’m a good person,” he said. “We’re in the process of doing a documentary right now, and I’m hoping that the documentary at least gets out there to let people understand and know who I am. You might not like me the way I played the game, and on the basketball court, and the way I conducted myself, and you’re entitled to that opinion. But don’t judge a person based upon what you see in an unreal environment, which sports is. It’s not the real world, it’s an unreal environment. Don’t judge a person how they conduct themselves there. You don’t have to like them. You can disagree with what they do, but don’t judge them as a human being and a person based upon what you see in that environment.”

Now 82, Barry remains active helping businesses with public relations. He said he continues to focus on work and helping others. This attitude has helped him transition to other business pursuits, where he has continued to find success. For Barry, his recipe for success is rather simple.

“I take pride in what I do, learn about what it is that I’m doing, put a good foundation down to build on, and never be satisfied with what I’m doing, and always striving to get better,” he said.

For one of the NBA’s all-time greats, Rick Barry continues to pursue excellence off the court.  However, he no longer defines excellence by wins and losses, but by how he can serve others both in business and in his relationships with friends and family.

His actions are guided by a simple principle, and he hopes others do the same.

 “Just be a good person,” he said. “Treat people the way that you would like to be treated.”