The Barry dynasty was one of the most talked-about in the NBA. It began with Rick Barry playing from 1966 to 1980, becoming a Hall of Famer. After his retirement, his three children continued the legacy by playing in the NBA, with their careers stretching into the early 2000s.

More than two decades later, a similar situation is unfolding in the NBA. Although not yet official, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brothers are poised to join him on the Bucks‘ roster for the upcoming season. Thanasis is already signed, and according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, their younger brother Alex is expected to join the Bucks as well.

This will make the Antetokounmpo family the second in NBA history to feature three brothers playing during the same season, following the Barry family. However, unlike the Barrys, who played on separate teams and at different times, the Antetokounmpo brothers will share a roster, marking an unprecedented occurrence in league history.

The Barry family’s NBA legacy

As the Antetokounmpo family is set to leave its mark on the NBA, it’s reminiscent of the Barry family’s impact in the previous century. Rick Barry and his sons Jon, Brent, and Drew all carved their own paths in the NBA, albeit at different times.

A notable aspect of the Barrys’ careers is that Rick, Jon, and Brent all played for and capped their careers with the Houston Rockets, while Rick, Jon, and Drew each spent time with the Golden State Warriors. Additionally, Rick and Brent Barry are one of the few father-son duos to have both won NBA championships as players.

Other notable family duos in the NBA

When discussing family ties in the NBA, the remarkable achievement by LeBron and Bronny James cannot be overlooked. They made history as the first father-son duo to feature on the same team during an official league matchup last season.

Another prominent example is the Thompson family. Mychel and Klay Thompson both played in the league with different franchises, and their father, Mychal Thompson, also had a distinguished career in the NBA. Mychal’s other son played five seasons in Major League Baseball, showcasing the breadth of their athletic prowess.

Barry believes that fans who automatically crown Jordan as the GOAT aren’t fully considering the broader history of the NBA. He emphasized that evaluating greatness requires a position-specific lens and a deeper understanding of each era’s challenges.

Speaking to Basketball Network in 2021, Barry said: “You can’t compare Michael Jordan to other players. The people who say ‘Jordan is the GOAT’ are wrong. There are different skills required to play each position—you simply can’t make a direct comparison.”

He added, “I go nuts when I hear people talk about the NBA GOAT. To me, the only true GOAT is someone who dominates their position. You can’t compare LeBron James to Wilt Chamberlain, it just doesn’t work.”

Rick Barry names his All-Time NBA starting five

While Rick Barry refrained from naming an official NBA GOAT, and even criticized those who firmly claim Michael Jordan or others as the greatest, he had no hesitation in selecting his personal All-Time Starting Five. With firsthand experience playing alongside legends and watching others rise, Barry assembled a dream lineup worthy of any all-time matchup.

“I’m going to go with Wilt Chamberlain at center, Bill Russell as the power forward, Michael Jordan at the two, and that could be LeBron James as well. I’m putting myself at the three, and Tim Duncan at the four,” Barry said.

Barry reveals his greatest international player ever

Despite leaving out all-time greats like Kobe Bryant, Oscar Robertson, and Stephen Curry from his starting five, Barry had a surprising pick when asked about the best international player in NBA history, and he didn’t hesitate to explain why.

“The guy probably would have been Arvydas Sabonis. People have no idea how incredible Sabonis was. Even after all the Achilles surgeries that slowed him down, he still made an impact here. But in his prime? He was unbelievable,” Barry explained.

The one regret Barry still carries

From championships to accolades, Rick Barry experienced nearly everything in his storied career. But one missed opportunity still lingers: not playing in the Olympics.

“The biggest disappointment in my life was not making the Olympic team. I once played in a game with ‘USA’ on my chest, facing the Russian team before the Soviet Union breakup. Hearing the national anthem at that moment was powerful. I can only imagine how it would’ve felt to win a gold medal with ‘USA’ across my chest,” Barry shared.

Brown is a very good player but not a superstar. And, in all honesty, chances are he’ll never reach that status, so it’s hard to justify paying him that much money at the moment.

At least, that’s what Golden State Warriors legend Rick Barry seems to think, as he recently called him out for his unimpressive performances in the playoffs and his proneness to turn the ball over.

Rick Barry Criticizes Jaylen Brown’s Contract

“You look at some of the contracts they have, like Brown—$ 306 million. I mean, that’s just hard for me to believe,” Barry said. “You know what his average in the playoffs for them is 18.5 points a game. I mean, 18.5 points a game, and he’s going to make $69 million in the last year of his contract. But 18.5 points a game, that’s nothing! Seriously.”

“To pay somebody that kind of money, and he’s a nice player, I really like him, but man, he’s got to improve his game,” added Barry. “He turns the ball over too much, he tries to force things, and so does his teammate Tatum. That’s one of the reasons they lost to the Warriors two seasons ago. They make too many turnovers.”

Brown isn’t to blame for that contract; it’s just the way the league is structured nowadays. Nevertheless, he’ll have to play way above his head to be able to live up to such a massive deal.