On This Date in Knicks History: October 2

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 09: Former New York Knicks player Dick Barnett waves to the crowd during the first half between the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 09, 2023 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Two noteworthy Knicks birthdays today!

Dr. Dick Barnett was born October 2, 1936, in Gary, Indiana. Barnett spent eight seasons with New York, became an All-Star in 1968, and played for both the 1970 and 1973 championship teams. His number 12 hangs in the Garden rafters. He died last year at 88.

Barnett had one of the most unforgettable shots in basketball history. Starting in college (when nicknamed “Dick the Skull”), he became known for contorting his body into a question mark while shooting his jumper, kicking his legs back and telling defenders, “Too late–fall back, baby!” Barnett went on to turn his eccentric shot into more than 15,000 NBA points.

A beloved teammate of Walt Frazier, Barnett was featured in the documentary film, The Dream Whisperer, about his time playing at Tennessee State University for the Tigers. During segregation, the all-Black Tigers won three straight national championships. Captain Barnett tirelessly fought for their recognition, which culminated in their 2019 induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Watch the doc here, you’ll dig it.

After hanging up his sneakers, Barnett earned an MBA from New York University and then a PhD in education from Fordham University. He taught Sports Management at St. John’s University for four years.

Here are his career highlights, per Wikipedia:

• 2× NBA champion (1970, 1973)
• NBA All-Star (1968)
• ABL champion (1962)
• All-ABL First Team (1962)
• No. 12 retired by New York Knicks
• 3× NAIA champion (1957–1959)
• 3× AP Little College All-American (1957–1959)
• 2× UPI Little College All-American (1958, 1959)
• 2× NAIA tournament MVP (1958, 1959)
• NBA Hall of Fame

And (feeling like Garrison Keillor here) Tyson Chandler was born today in 1982, in Hanford, California. Chandler came to New York immediately after anchoring Dallas’ 2011 championship defense and became the 2011-12 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the only Knick ever to take the honor.

Drafted second in 2001, the seven-foot Chandler played for five seasons in Chicago before bouncing from NOLA to Charlotte to Dallas and then the Knicks. After three seasons at MSG, he was sent back to Dallas, then Phoenix, and finished out his 19-year career with the Lakers and Rockets.

Chandler joined the Knicks in December 2011 via a sign-and-trade between multiple teams, which also sent traded Ronny Turiaf, cash, and a 2013 2nd-round draft pick to the Wizards. While there was no denying his talent, Chandler appeared on the injured list often during his tenure here, with a hamstring strain, playoff flu and an upper respiratory infection, a bulging cervical disc (plus related neck spasms and weight loss from illness), and a fractured right fibula.

In June 2014, he and Raymond Felton were traded to the Mavs for José Calderón, Samuel Dalembert, Wayne Ellington, Shane Larkin, a 2014 2nd-round draft pick (Thanasis Antetokounmpo was later selected), and a 2014 2nd-round draft pick (Cleanthony Early was later selected). (h/t basketball-reference.com)

Chandler concluded his time in New York with averages of 10.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 183 games. His career highlights, also from Wikipedia:

• NBA champion (2011)
• NBA All-Star (2013)
• All-NBA Third Team (2012)
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2012)
• NBA All-Defensive First Team (2013)
• 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2011, 2012)
• First-team Parade All-American (2001)
• Second-team Parade All-American (2000)
• McDonald’s All-American (2001)
• 2× California Mr. Basketball (2000, 2001)

Quite a nice pairing: two Knicks born 46 years apart, one remembered for his offense, the other for defense. Closing my Writer’s Almanac loop, your poem for the day is a personal favorite, “The Bear,” by Galway Kinnell.

Knicks in five. And keep in touch.