Marvin Barnes facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 27, 1952 Providence, Rhode Island |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | September 8, 2014 (aged 62) Providence, Rhode Island |
| High school | Central (Providence, Rhode Island) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Providence (1971–1974) |
| NBA Draft | 1974 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall |
| Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
| Pro career | 1974–1986 |
| Career history | |
| 1974–1976 | Spirits of St. Louis |
| 1976–1977 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1977–1978 | Buffalo Braves |
| 1978–1979 | Boston Celtics |
| 1979–1980 | San Diego Clippers |
| 1980 | Hurlingham Trieste |
| 1982–1983 | Detroit Spirits |
| 1983–1984 | Ohio Mixers |
| 1985–1986 | Evansville Thunder |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 5,034 (16.0 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,873 (9.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 651 (2.1 apg) |
Marvin Jerome "Bad News" Barnes (born July 27, 1952 – died September 8, 2014) was an American professional basketball player. He played as a forward. Marvin was an All-American player at Providence College. He also played professionally in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA).
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College Basketball Career
Marvin Barnes played college basketball at Providence College. In 1973, he made history by scoring 10 times on 10 shots in an NCAA tournament game. This was a record at the time. He also led the country in rebounding during the 1973–74 season. On December 15, 1973, Barnes scored 52 points against Austin Peay. This broke the school record for most points in a single game.
During his time at Providence, Barnes played 89 games. He averaged 20.7 points, 17.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. His coach was Dave Gavitt.
Professional Basketball Journey
Marvin Barnes was a top pick in the 1974 basketball drafts. The Philadelphia 76ers chose him second overall in the 1974 NBA draft. The Spirits of St. Louis also drafted him in the 1974 ABA Draft. Barnes chose to play for the Spirits in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1974 to 1976. After that, he played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1976 to 1980.
Success in the ABA
Barnes had his best years in the ABA with the Spirits of St. Louis. He was named Rookie of the Year for the 1974–75 season. He also holds an ABA record for making 27 two-point field goals in one game. In 2005, a later version of the ABA named one of their divisions after him.
Marvin Barnes was known for his unique personality. Once, he refused to get on a plane because it was scheduled to land before it took off. He famously said, "I ain't getting in no time machine." He decided to rent a car instead.
In 144 ABA games, Barnes averaged 21.4 points and 13.4 rebounds. He also had 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game.
Moving to the NBA
After the ABA, Barnes was picked by the Detroit Pistons in the 1976 ABA Dispersal Draft. He played for the Pistons during the 1976–77 season. Later, he played for the Buffalo Braves at the start of the 1978–79 NBA season. Barnes also played one season for the Boston Celtics.
He finished his NBA career with the San Diego Clippers in 1980. After that, he briefly played basketball in Italy for Pallacanestro Trieste in 1980–81. In 171 NBA games, Barnes averaged 9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. His total career averages across both leagues were 16.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.
The "Bad News" Nickname
Marvin Barnes earned the nickname "Bad News" because he often faced challenges off the court. These issues started when he was in high school. Later, while playing for Providence College, he had a disagreement with a teammate. He later accepted responsibility for his actions and was placed on probation.
In 1976, he had another issue at the Detroit Metro Airport. This led to him spending some time in a Rhode Island state facility. After his release, he returned to play for the Detroit Pistons.
Later in his life, Marvin Barnes worked to help young people. He spoke to youth in South Providence, where he grew up. He encouraged them to learn from his experiences and make positive choices.
Death
Marvin Barnes passed away on September 8, 2014, at the age of 62. His death was confirmed by Kevin Stacom, who was his teammate at Providence College.
Legacy and Honors
Marvin Barnes left a lasting mark on basketball. In March 2008, Providence College honored him by retiring his jersey. This is a special way to remember great players. He was honored alongside other basketball legends, Ernie DiGregorio and Jimmy Walker.
He still shares the school record for most points in a single game, with 52 points. This record was later tied by MarShon Brooks. Barnes was also inducted into the Providence Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.
See also
- 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
