Golden State Warriors TV Analyst
Jim Barnett is an iconic and beloved figure in the Golden State Warriors fandom. He is in his 32nd season as the Warriors television analyst. Barnett has been the voice behind the Warriors since the 1985–1986 NBA season. He currently works alongside play-by-play announcer, Bob Fitzgerald, on “Warriors Live” pregame shows and postgame shows. The announcer has reported on some of the greatest GSW moments such as Sleepy Floyd’s record setting playoff performance, to the “We Believe” era, and the 2015 NBA Championship Season.
Before becoming the GSW TV analyst, Barnett was a professional basketball player. He was an all star basketball player with several awards and recognition from his high school and university. Barnett is in the Riverside Hall of Fame, University of Oregon Hall of Fame, and State of Oregon Hall of Fame. He was also the NCAA All-American basketball player at his university. In 2012, Barnett was inducted into the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor during the 2012 Pac-12 Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Barnett’s began his NBA career with the Boston Celtics who selected him as the 8th pick overall in the 1966 draft. Over the course of his 11 year career, he played for the San Diego Rockets, Portland Trailblazers, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Jazz, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3 assists in 732 games. As a rookie, Barnett was nicknamed Crazy Horse by his Celtics teammate John Havlicek for his frenzy playing style.
Barnett has so much passion and enthusiasm for the game which makes him the perfect person for position of the Warriors TV analyst. In 2014, he was asked to take an ambassador’s role with the Warriors and step down as the voice behind the broadcasts. However, fans wanted Barnett to continue being the Warriors announcer. The audience loves Barnett’s insight and criticism as he breaks down the game clearly. He doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves.
Although his NBA career is over, he still has time to work on his jump shot. Barnett has participated in the National AAU Master’s Championship in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida since 1984. In addition, he still competes in international Master’s Tournaments every year.
Barnett guest started in Sports Analyst, Scott Reiss’ session on January 28, 2017. Barnett and Reiss got together and answered fan questions about his career and the Warriors. You may watch the replay of his StarTime Q&A session on the app. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and download the app so you don’t miss any superstar celebrity sessions in the future!
