Barry got better at using his underhand method to shoot free throws as his career advanced. Rick shot over 90% his last 6 years in the NBA and if you round up his % he shot 90% or better his last 8 years (he shot .899 % one year). That's how great a free throw shooter he was.
I've followed and watched basketball a lot in my life and even watched a ton of stuff on UA-cam of all the older, great players and teams but until a few days ago I knew nothing about Rick Barry other than he won with the Warriors and got the Finals MVP. He was an amazing player! We used to call that shot a granny shot when we were kids. I love how people won't do it because it's not cool and then have a terrible free throw percentage. Shaq's comments made me upset. Rick wasn't insulting him at all. He was simply calmly explaining it would have helped him a lot and then Shaq has to be all rude and insulting.
Wei....I totally agree with everything you wrote ! Rick Barry averaged almost 11 rebounds his 1st year in the league but with Nate Thurmond around and the need for more offense, he scored more and rebounded less. As far as free throws, even his "poor" free throw shooting years (were there any ?) were noticeably better than many players best free throw shooting years. When I watch a game now and see Iguodala missing 9 of 11 free throws (and I LOVE Iguodala) I just say to myself, "Rick would've made those...and that's why he was the best".
The mere fact his ego withstood this separates him from the egos of today's game.....and he could have been a stand in for Adam West at any given time......who else can say that?
Rick Barry is one of the greatest players ever, period. As a free throw shooter, did anybody ever have a better %? If so, it would have to be a short list. The 3 greatest small forwards ever, in my opinion, were Bird, Baylor, and Barry. Barry could do it all and was especially a great shooter and a great passer. If he had played in the NBA when they had a 3 pt shot, he would have scored even more.
Those two played much later and under better conditions. One could even make the argument that Bill Sharman was the greatest FT shooter of all time: he shot 88% during a career that ended in 1961. Crappy areas, poor lighting, and lower-quality backboards and rims.
Rick is so right about Shaq O'Neal. Shaq can say anything he wants about free throws, but I wonder if he is ever honest with himself about how much greater he could have been. Right now there's a big debate about who is the greatest NBA player of all time between Lebron and MJ. Imagine if Shaq had shot 90% FTs, or even 80%, and averaged 35-40 PPG at his peak. Lebron and MJ would be fighting for #2.
Why don't people EVER bring up Oscar Robertson? He's never even mentioned, let alone considered as possibly the greatest basketball player ever. Could and did do everything, and being a 6ft 5in sturdy guard could easily mix it up today. Scored so many points with no three point line yet either.
@@WuLi4B well you were absolutely right. Oscar's "problem" is the same as Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, John Havlicek's. They played quite some time ago & folks need reminders of their greatness. Oscar was all you said he was. Wilt & Russell get more mention due to their individual matchups, the Celtics dominance & the many records Wilt set.
And I know that Steve Nash and Mark Price (both of whom I like and respect) had great free throw shooting seasons BUT you'll see they didn't shoot as many as Rick did.... I think they're great but I'd still pick Rick any day of the week and twice on Sunday to shoot crucial free throws for me.
Quick question. Why is it "disloyal" for a player who is drafted by a team to want a better contract? All drafted players almost without exception did not even agree they wanted to play for the team drafting them. Could you imagine this any any other field. Additional point, Shaq is no where near as good as he thinks he is. (Great person away from basketball) He could not shot a basketball from outside five feet! He needs all the help he could get. Especially from one of the best players ever.
I don't have any idea how today's players would be concerned about looking cool rather than even considering that underhand style used by the 5th leading free throw shooter of ALL TIME. THese guys won't drive either cuz they think they'll look bad when their shot gets blocked/slammed by the defensive center or one of their other big guys. That's how you make guys like Shaq foul out. Go right back next tine and do it again. He WILL foul you eventually, but he will foul out eventually too. It's a team game. Ask the Celtics.
Shaq is a jerk of the first order and truth be told, was over-rated. If your life depended on someone making a free throw, my money (and life) would be on Rick Barry.
Simple - No matter how it looks, if players like Shaq were able to improve their free throws (considering the hack a Shaq tactics), he might be in the debate of the GOAT center. Instead this masculine 7'1" 330+ lbs was worried about how he would be looked at. Pathetic!
Shaq is annoying,over rated and disrespectful !Shaq won all his championships with steroids ,using his body to muscle down players out of their position illegally and traveled many times doing it! Shaq won when most the great big men were retired from basketball! The teams that Shaq had were way better then what Rick Barry was working with.It was actually common NBA players before Rick Barry shot underhand so why it was a big deal when Rick was doing it seems odd.
Barry got better at using his underhand method to shoot free throws as his career advanced. Rick shot over 90% his last 6 years in the NBA and if you round up his % he shot 90% or better his last 8 years (he shot .899 % one year). That's how great a free throw shooter he was.
Rick Barry's Granny shot is the most sound shot and all players should develop underhand shooting 🏀
What a great player he was. Tough as nails and talented to match.
I've followed and watched basketball a lot in my life and even watched a ton of stuff on UA-cam of all the older, great players and teams but until a few days ago I knew nothing about Rick Barry other than he won with the Warriors and got the Finals MVP. He was an amazing player! We used to call that shot a granny shot when we were kids. I love how people won't do it because it's not cool and then have a terrible free throw percentage. Shaq's comments made me upset. Rick wasn't insulting him at all. He was simply calmly explaining it would have helped him a lot and then Shaq has to be all rude and insulting.
Wei....I totally agree with everything you wrote ! Rick Barry averaged almost 11 rebounds his 1st year in the league but with Nate Thurmond around and the need for more offense, he scored more and rebounded less. As far as free throws, even his "poor" free throw shooting years (were there any ?) were noticeably better than many players best free throw shooting years. When I watch a game now and see Iguodala missing 9 of 11 free throws (and I LOVE Iguodala) I just say to myself, "Rick would've made those...and that's why he was the best".
Such an amazing special. They really went in there with him!
The mere fact his ego withstood this separates him from the egos of today's game.....and he could have been a stand in for Adam West at any given time......who else can say that?
Rick Barry is one of the greatest players ever, period. As a free throw shooter, did anybody ever have a better %? If so, it would have to be a short list. The 3 greatest small forwards ever, in my opinion, were Bird, Baylor, and Barry. Barry could do it all and was especially a great shooter and a great passer. If he had played in the NBA when they had a 3 pt shot, he would have scored even more.
Wei Qi Steve Nash and Mark Price
Those two played much later and under better conditions. One could even make the argument that Bill Sharman was the greatest FT shooter of all time: he shot 88% during a career that ended in 1961. Crappy areas, poor lighting, and lower-quality backboards and rims.
Great small forwards...hard to leave havlicek off the top 3 list though..
@@jeffw1267 Veery good points about the playing conditions years ago.
SEEN RICK PLAY FOR N.Y. NETS FOR 2 SEASONS. IN ABA....BEFORE OR SINCE I NEVER SEEN A HARDER WORKER ON A BASKETBALL COURT....WHAT A COMPETITOR
I wish Rick would start up the ABA again and either get rid of the 3pt line or move it out 5 ft. As well as make all the changes he advocates
And Shaq was just big. His resume is "won genetic lottery"...
Your Mother The fact he wouldn't even try an alternative to improve shows he wouldn't do everything it took to win.
You back your way in with your size roll over the defender dunk the ball.
@@leechmaster21 What Shaq's attitude said was that he was more concerned with what people thought about him than he was with making free throws.
Rick is so right about Shaq O'Neal. Shaq can say anything he wants about free throws, but I wonder if he is ever honest with himself about how much greater he could have been. Right now there's a big debate about who is the greatest NBA player of all time between Lebron and MJ. Imagine if Shaq had shot 90% FTs, or even 80%, and averaged 35-40 PPG at his peak. Lebron and MJ would be fighting for #2.
Why don't people EVER bring up Oscar Robertson? He's never even mentioned, let alone considered as possibly the greatest basketball player ever. Could and did do everything, and being a 6ft 5in sturdy guard could easily mix it up today. Scored so many points with no three point line yet either.
@@WuLi4B well you were absolutely right. Oscar's "problem" is the same as Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, John Havlicek's. They played quite some time ago & folks need reminders of their greatness. Oscar was all you said he was.
Wilt & Russell get more mention due to their individual matchups, the Celtics dominance & the many records Wilt set.
@@WuLi4B media didn’t like him smh
Rick read my mind. My record is 148 in a row, that's outside with the elements as well.
Shaq was never in the same league as Wilt, Russell, Kareem, or Parrish .
And I know that Steve Nash and Mark Price (both of whom I like and respect) had great free throw shooting seasons BUT you'll see they didn't shoot as many as Rick did.... I think they're great but I'd still pick Rick any day of the week and twice on Sunday to shoot crucial free throws for me.
I will take any of those 3 at the line anytime.
Excellent point about the total # of free throws taken.
Quick question. Why is it "disloyal" for a player who is drafted by a team to want a better contract? All drafted players almost without exception did not even agree they wanted to play for the team drafting them. Could you imagine this any any other field.
Additional point, Shaq is no where near as good as he thinks he is. (Great person away from basketball) He could not shot a basketball from outside five feet! He needs all the help he could get. Especially from one of the best players ever.
Wilt tried it for a while.
I don't have any idea how today's players would be concerned about looking cool rather than even considering that underhand style used by the 5th leading free throw shooter of ALL TIME. THese guys won't drive either cuz they think they'll look bad when their shot gets blocked/slammed by the defensive center or one of their other big guys. That's how you make guys like Shaq foul out. Go right back next tine and do it again. He WILL foul you eventually, but he will foul out eventually too. It's a team game. Ask the Celtics.
Shaq is a jerk of the first order and truth be told, was over-rated. If your life depended on someone making a free throw, my money (and life) would be on Rick Barry.
Perfect comment.
Simple - No matter how it looks, if players like Shaq were able to improve their free throws (considering the hack a Shaq tactics), he might be in the debate of the GOAT center. Instead this masculine 7'1" 330+ lbs was worried about how he would be looked at. Pathetic!
That’s was extremely arrogant of Shaq, could’ve had 10,000 more points
Rick Barry, the most cocky player of all time!
Yes but he was a great player
Shaq is annoying,over rated and disrespectful !Shaq won all his championships with steroids ,using his body to muscle down players out of their position illegally and traveled many times doing it! Shaq won when most the great big men were retired from basketball! The teams that Shaq had were way better then what Rick Barry was working with.It was actually common NBA players before Rick Barry shot underhand so why it was a big deal when Rick was doing it seems odd.
Except that he was the only star (and one of the very, very few players) using the underhand method as of the second half of the 1960's.,