1970-1971 John Barnhill Indiana Pacer Nicholas Volpe Sports Print

John Barnhill, a member of the Pacers’ first ABA championship team in 1970 this basketball card which are part of a set were sponsored by Marathon Oil and drawn by prolific professional sports artist Nicholas Volpe. The reverse sides are completely filled with advertising and promotional opportunities to buy. This is from the 1970-1971 season. 

A 6-1 guard, Barnhill joined the Pacers for the 1969-70 season, averaged 11.4 points per game as a part-time starter and was second on the team in assists. He averaged five points in 43 games during the 1970-71 season before he was released and returned to play 19 more games with Indiana in 1971-72.

From 1962 to 1969, Barnhill played in the National Basketball Association as a member of the St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets, and San Diego Rockets. He averaged 8.6 points per game in his NBA career. Barnhill later spent time in the rival American Basketball Association, mainly as a member of the Indiana Pacers. Additionally, Barnhill was selected in three separate NBA expansion drafts in three consecutive years, 1966 (Chicago Bulls), 1967 (San Diego Rockets), and 1968 (Phoenix Suns).

Following his playing career, Barnhill was an NBA assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, assisting Bill Sharman; he acted as the Lakers' interim coach during the 1974–75 season, while Sharman's wife was ill with cancer.