Over the weekend, Rick Barry returned to represent the Golden State Warriors, but this time, it wasn’t on the basketball court inside Chase Center. Instead, Barry took to the pickleball court outside the arena.
“It’s my competitive thing,” said the 12-time NBA All-Star and 1975 NBA Finals MVP. “I just love competition. I have something I can compete in and get challenged in — and I love it.”
The same drive that made Barry a basketball legend now fuels his passion for pickleball. At 80, he’s still every bit the competitor he was during his time with the Warriors. After picking up the pickleball paddle several years ago, Barry has become one of the sport’s most accomplished players in his age group.
In April, at the U.S. Open in Naples, Florida, Barry won the triple crown, earning gold medals in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles in his age division.
“I just made up my mind. I was going to learn to be good at it,” Barry said. He was invited by the Warriors to participate in their pickleball tournament at Thrive City, the outdoor space at Chase Center.
Rick Barry is eyeing another triple crown this fall at the Huntsman Senior World Games in St. George, Utah, and hopes to repeat the feat at the U.S. National Championships in Mesa, Arizona. Barry has already won and medaled in numerous prestigious tournaments, becoming an unofficial ambassador for the sport along the way.
“It’s nice in life when you can set a goal for yourself and achieve it — especially on your first try,” Barry said. “When I’m on the court, I have one goal: to win.”
At 6-foot-7, Barry once channeled his competitive drive into tennis and long-driving, sports he excelled in after his legendary NBA career. A four-time All-NBA first-team honoree, Barry averaged 30.6 points during the 1974-75 NBA Championship run with the Golden State Warriors. However, tennis took a toll on his body, especially his knees, and his long-driving career (where he won four world championships from 2007 to 2013) eventually wore him out.
“Why don’t you try pickleball?” suggested his wife, Lynn, sparking Barry’s interest. “I thought, ‘What the hell is pickleball?’ So I did some research,” he said.
What he found was a fast-growing sport, easy to pick up and play, with a strong community. Practicing in The Villages, a retirement community in Florida, Barry set a new goal: to win a major pickleball tournament.
“He went all in,” said his son, Drew Barry. “He’s an athlete through and through. Whatever he sets his mind to, he goes all the way.”
In 2021, Barry won his first gold medal in mixed doubles at the U.S. Open with partner Linda Bruder, fulfilling his initial goal and driving him to master the singles game. Barry’s height and wingspan give him a unique advantage, allowing him to attack and return shots from unconventional angles. He relies on precision and accuracy—a strategy reminiscent of his famous underhanded free-throw style.
Now, Barry plays pickleball several times a week, both competitively and recreationally. When fans recognize him, he’s always gracious, pausing to chat or sign autographs.
“He’s willing to talk to anyone and sign autographs,” said Fred Shuey, Barry’s 80-year-old doubles partner and a former pro baseball player. “People realize who he is, and he always makes time for them.”
For Barry, promoting pickleball is part of the fun. “I’ve made a lot of connections in the pickleball world,” Barry said. “It’s been great to watch the sport grow and see what it’s become.”
