Marvin Barnes
Basketball · Hometown: Providence, RI
- High school
- Hope High School
- College
- Providence College
- Pro team(s)
- Spirits of St. Louis, Buffalo Braves, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, San Diego Clippers
Marvin "Bad News" Barnes was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and was one of the most talented and mercurial players of his generation. At Providence College he became one of the most feared big men in college basketball, leading the Friars to back-to-back NIT appearances and earning first-team All-American honors. In the ABA, Barnes averaged 24.1 points and 15.7 rebounds per game in his first season for the Spirits of St. Louis (1974-75), numbers that few players in professional basketball history have matched. His nickname, his charismatic personality, and a talent that defied categorization made him one of the most unforgettable figures in ABA history — a league full of unforgettable figures. Personal struggles curtailed what should have been a Hall of Fame career.