Jim Barnett - Basketball

Jim Barnett made his mark on Oregon as a durable, feisty player at both the University of Oregon and in the NBA, including one memorable season with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Born in 1944 in South Carolina, Barnett grew up in Riverside, Calif., and was recruited from Ramona High by the University of Oregon as a 6-foot-4 guard and small forward. Barnett, who chose Oregon over UCLA because he envisioned more playing time in Eugene, played at McArthur Court from 1963 through ’66 and finished as the Ducks all-time leading scorer having averaged 17.7 points per game. He was an All-American in 1966 and played in the NABC East-West All-Star Game.

The Boston Celtics selected him with the eighth pick of the 1966 NBA Draft, and the San Diego Rockets selected him the following season in the NBA Expansion Draft. After three seasons in San Diego, the Blazers acquired him prior to its expansion season in 1970.

In Portland, he recorded the Blazers first triple-double, with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists on Dec. 1, 1970, against the Rockets. He is credited with inspiring broadcaster Bill Schonely to create the term “Rip City” during a game in 1971.

During his 11-year NBA career, Barnett played for seven teams: Boston, San Diego, Portland, San Francisco, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia, and played in 70 or more games eight times. His teams reached the playoffs five times, including the Eastern Conference finals with Boston in 1967 and Western Conference finals with Golden State in 1973. He averaged 11.7 points per game during his career, and retired at age 32.

Barnett averaged a career-best 18.5 points per game during his season in Portland.

After retiring at age 32, Barnett worked in the advertising and sales promotion field for a decade before leaving to become co-host of a popular pre-game show for the Golden State Warriors.

He was inducted to the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.