Marvin Barnes
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Providence, Rhode Island | July 27, 1952
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Central (Providence, Rhode Island) |
College | Providence (1971–1974) |
NBA draft | 1974: 1st round, 2nd overall pick |
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
Playing career | 1974–1986 |
Position | Power forward / Center |
Number | 24, 8, 27 |
Career history | |
1974–1976 | Spirits of St. Louis (ABA) |
1976–1977 | Detroit Pistons |
1977–1978 | Buffalo Braves |
1978–1979 | Boston Celtics |
1979–1980 | San Diego Clippers |
1980 | Hurlingham Trieste (Italy) |
1982–1983 | Detroit Spirits (CBA) |
1983–1984 | Ohio Mixers (CBA) |
1985–1986 | Evansville Thunder (CBA) |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
Points | 5,034 (16.0 ppg) |
Rebounds | 2,873 (9.1 rpg) |
Blocks | 438 (1.4 bpg) |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball Reference |
Marvin Jerome Barnes (born July 27, 1952-died September 8, 2014) is a former professional American basketball player.
As a 6'8" forward, Barnes played at Providence College. In 1973, he was the first player to score 10 times on 10 field goal attempts in the NCAA playoffs, and remains tied for second behind Kenny Walker, who went 11-for-11 in 1986.[1] He led the nation in rebounding in 1973-74. On December 15, 1973, Barnes scored 52 points against Austin Peay, breaking the single-game school record. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the second overall pick in the first round of the 1974 NBA Draft and by the Spirits of St. Louis in the 1974 ABA Draft. Barnes opted for the ABA and played for the Spirits in the American Basketball Association from 1974 to 1976 before playing in the National Basketball Association from 1976 to 1980. He had his greatest success in the ABA, where he starred for the Spirits and was named Rookie of the Year for the 1974–75 season. He also shares the ABA record for most two-point field goals in a game, with 27. In 2005, the ABA 2000, the second incarnation of the ABA, named one of their divisions after him.
His nickname, "Bad News," came from his frequent off-court problems, which began when he was a senior at Central High School. He was part of a gang that attempted to rob a bus. He was quickly identified as he was wearing his state championship jacket with his name embroidered on it. His case was handled by the juvenile justice system. In 1972, while playing center for Providence College, he attacked a teammate with a tire iron. He later pled guilty to assault, paid the victim $10,000 and was placed on probation. He violated probation in October 1976 when an unloaded gun was found in his bag at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and served 152 days in Rhode Island state prison.[2] Upon release he returned to the Detroit Pistons. He has been arrested for burglary, drug possession, and trespassing.[3] Because of his drug use, his NBA career was cut short and he wound up homeless in San Diego, California in the early 1980s. After multiple rehab programs, he started reaching out to youth in South Providence, where he grew up, urging them not to make the same mistakes he had.[4]
In March 2008, Providence College retired his jersey, honoring him along with Ernie DiGregorio and Jimmy Walker. He still co-holds (since tied by Marshon Brooks) the school single-game scoring record of 52 points. [5]
See also
- 1973 NCAA Men Division I Basketball Tournament
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 30 or more rebounds in a game
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leaders
References
- ^ "NCAA Tournament Capsules". Sports Illustrated. 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ^ Papanek, John (24 October 1977). "This Time The News Is Good". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
- ^ "More Bad News for Marvin Barnes". The Washington Post. 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ^ Grossfeld, Stan (2006-01-06). "Good news, bad news". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
- ^ McNamara, Kevin (2008-03-09). "PC honors 3 of its very best: Walker, Barnes, DiGregorio". Providence Journal. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
External links
- Marvin Barnes page at RememberTheABA.com
- Career stats at basketball-reference.com
- "ABA Names Division After Marvin "Bad News" Barnes", article at
Template:United States Men Basketball Squad 1973 Summer Universiade
- 1952 births
- Living people
- African-American basketball players
- American expatriate basketball people in Italy
- Basketball players at the 1973 NCAA Men's Division I Final Four
- Basketball players from Rhode Island
- Boston Celtics players
- Buffalo Braves players
- Centers (basketball)
- Detroit Pistons players
- Detroit Spirits players
- Evansville Thunder players
- Ohio Mixers players
- Philadelphia 76ers draft picks
- Power forwards (basketball)
- Providence Friars men's basketball players
- San Diego Clippers players
- Spirits of St. Louis draft picks
- Spirits of St. Louis players
- Sportspeople from Providence, Rhode Island