Dick Barnett, a Hall of Famer who steered the New York Knicks to their only two NBA titles in 1970 and 1973, passed away on Sunday. He was 88.

“We are terribly saddened to hear about the passing of Knicks legend Dr. Richard Barnett,” the team said in a statement. “Throughout his illustrious career, Dick Barnett embodied everything it meant to be a New York Knick, both on and off the court. He left a positive impact on everyone he encountered, and this organization is incredibly fortunate to have had him as such an integral part of its history.”

The Knicks, however, provided few details on the cause of his death. According to The New York Times, Barnett died in Florida at an assisted living center.

In nine seasons with the Knicks had turned himself into a darling of the fans. He averaged 15.6 points per game and is ninth on their career scoring list.

Barnett, who was the fifth pick in the 1959 NBA Draft by the Syracuse Nationals, also played for the Los Angeles Lakers before arriving in New York in 1965.

The left-handed player was best known for his unorthodox “Fall back, baby” jump shot. The Knicks retired his jersey number 12 in 1990.

Barnett, who was born in Gary, Indiana, on October 2, 1936, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the men’s veterans category in 2024.

At the intercollegiate championship level, he led Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State University, now Tennessee State, to three straight national titles from 1957 to 1959.

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