The Golden State Warriors will name the media workroom at Chase Center the Jim Barnett Media Center, honoring Barnett’s legendary 37-year career with the Warriors broadcast team, it was announced today. Barnett, who will transition to a community relations ambassador role ahead of the 2023-24 season, spent 34 seasons as television analyst for the Warriors before serving in the same capacity alongside Tim Roye for road radio broadcasts over the past three seasons.
Prior to his broadcasting role, Barnett enjoyed an 11-year NBA playing career that included three years with Golden State (1971-74). The Jim Barnett Media Center will be unveiled on Wednesday, November 1, when the Warriors host the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center.
“It will be quite an honor to have the media workroom at Chase Center named after me,” said Barnett. “I’ve spent countless nights in media rooms across the league during my time as a broadcaster, including in both Oakland and San Francisco, and have formed many wonderful relationships in this space. I really appreciate this tribute, value the 40-plus years I’ve been with the organization as a player and broadcaster and look forward to continuing on this journey as a Community Relations Ambassador for the Warriors.”
“The name Jim Barnett has been synonymous with Warriors Basketball over the last four decades,” said Warriors President & COO Brandon Schneider. “His passion for the game was palpable on every single broadcast, spanning from Sleepy Floyd to Stephen Curry, and his love affair with the Warriors is second to none. We’re excited to bestow him with this honor, thank him for a job that was incredibly well done and look forward to working with him in his role as a Community Relations Ambassador.”
During his broadcasting tenure, Barnett provided unique insights for nearly four decades of organizational milestones, spanning the Run TMC and We Believe eras and including four NBA titles, six NBA Finals appearances, and an NBA-record 73-win season.
Barnett’s NBA career began when the Boston Celtics selected him with the eighth pick overall in the 1966 NBA Draft. In addition to the Celtics and Warriors, he spent time with the San Diego Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Jazz, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 732 career games.
Over his playing career, Barnett teamed up with many of the league’s iconic Hall of Famers, including Warriors stars Rick Barry and Nate Thurmond, as well as Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Pete Maravich and Julius Erving. Nicknamed “Crazy Horse,” the Riverside, Calif., native was a basketball All-American at the University of Oregon and is a member of both the University of Oregon and State of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame, as well as the Riverside Hall of Fame.