If NBA players underrated Rick Barry in the 1970’s, it’s because he was incredibly unlikeable, not because he was a bad player.
He was pretty well-known around the league for being a very abrasive, condescending, and rude individual and later developed a reputation for being racist. So you can see why most players didn’t respect him very much.
BUT…he was definitely a great player at the time. He was averaging 28 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in the 1975 playoffs, ultimately resulting in the Golden State Warriors winning a championship with Barry as the finals MVP.
So I don’t think people ever questioned Rick Barry’s basketball ability, they just questioned how he treated people on a human level.
Barry was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and grew up in nearby Roselle Park, an urban middle-class community.
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