Table of Contents
- Rick Barry playing pickleball on court wearing knee and elbow support sleeves
- The Conversation
- You’re in your early 80s and still winning. What happens to guys who quit too early?
- How did you come around to trying GO Sleeves?
- When you watch March Madness now, what do you notice that other people miss?
- What advice would you give these young players that they're not being taught?
- You've talked about the pregame warmup problem before. Does that still bother you?
- You've talked a lot about pressure over the years.
- If you could grab one of these kids after a bad game — 30 seconds — what would you tell him?
- What's your message for all the March Madness players?
- Watch the Full Conversation with Rick Barry
- What Rick Barry Uses to Stay in the Game
- FAQs
Rick Barry Interview: Competition, Fundamentals, and Longevity
Rick Barry is a Hall of Famer, 12x All-Star, and the only player in history to lead the NCAA, ABA, and NBA in scoring. He’s also the guy who shot free throws underhanded for 14 years — and made 90% of them while everyone chuckled. He got the last laugh.
He’s 82 and still competing. Cycling. Playing competitive pickleball. Still winning.
We sat down with him ahead of March Madness to talk about what he sees when he watches the tournament — and why so many athletes fall short on the fundamentals that actually sustain performance.
In this interview, Rick Barry shares his perspective on competition, fundamentals, and staying in the game. We kept it quick. Rick hits hard and lets it land.
Rick Barry playing pickleball on court wearing knee and elbow support sleeves
Rick Barry playing pickleball on court wearing knee and elbow support sleevesThe Conversation
You’re in your early 80s and still winning. What happens to guys who quit too early?
It's astonishing to me that guys can just walk away from it and not have something else to continue to compete. Competing is a part of my DNA. I had to find something — I found long driving in golf. Won four major world championships in my age category. Then they got rid of that and I couldn't compete anymore. So I found pickleball. I'm one of the top-ranked players in the world at my age and skill. I've won all the major tournaments. In 2024, I won three triple crowns. I won the world seniors triple crown last December.
Your health is everything. I see a lot of guys from different sports at charity events throughout the year and it's astonishing to me how they let themselves go physically. They get overweight. It's not healthy. You've got everything to do anything you want in life with all the money they made, but you can't do it if you're not healthy.
How did you come around to trying GO Sleeves?
I was at a function for Al Attles — my coach, who's passed away — in Oakland. Darren and Roy came up to me afterwards and told me about the product. I said okay, send them to me, I'll check it out.
I tried them and once I got the measurement right, I really liked them. It felt so good that I actually wear them on both knees now — not just the one that needs it. My son Canyon wore them getting ready for the Olympics in 3x3 basketball. They helped him get through the FIBA world tour and qualify for the games. They were a godsend.
I'm a believer. If something can help me feel better, stay healthier, and I know it can't hurt me, I'm going to try it. And preventative is great, too — you don't have to wait until something's broken.
Over the years, I've put a lot of people into GO Sleeves at tournaments. Not one person — not one — has ever said to me, Rick, I didn't like them. They love them.
When you watch March Madness now, what do you notice that other people miss?
People get so caught up in the excitement — the crowds go crazy, the bands, the cheerleaders. One loss and you're out. The best team doesn't necessarily win the championship every year because you have one bad game and you can be eliminated.
I love it when athletes are put into situations where everything is on the line. Every NCAA tournament game is like a Game 7 NBA Finals because it's an elimination game. That's what makes it exciting. Win or go home.
Rick Barry, NBA Hall of Famer, built his career on fundamentals, precision, and a relentless drive to compete.
What advice would you give these young players that they're not being taught?
The problem is it starts at an early age when they go into programs where they're not being taught the fundamentals. You have to learn the fundamental concepts and principles of what you're doing — whether it's music, art, science, basketball, football, baseball.
The bigger the foundation, the taller the building. You can't build a skyscraper on a small foundation. It will topple over. Physically impossible. If you really learn as much about that sport fundamentally, you can maximize the full potential of your God-given ability. The biggest problem is too many players today are short-changed because they're put into programs where they don't learn the fundamentals.
You've talked about the pregame warmup problem before. Does that still bother you?
It drove me crazy watching my son in college. The team comes out. They do some warmups. They go back to the locker room. They come out. They do something again. They go back. How many times do you want to warm your body up, have your muscles get warm, then have them get cold again?
Overseas, after the national anthem and all that, they give players a couple more minutes to go out and move around and get loose again. NCAA basketball doesn't do that. It just makes no logical sense to me. That's how you wind up getting little pulls and little things — because you're not properly prepared.
You've talked a lot about pressure over the years.
There is no pressure. Most overused word in the sports lexicon. I'm so sick of listening to announcers talking about, "the pressure is really on."
If you have confidence in your ability to do what you've trained to do, there is no pressure. Ever. You live for these situations. If I could control every game I ever played, I would want every game to come down to the last 10 seconds, game on the line, ball in my hands. I had enough confidence in myself that I was going to do something good with it. Did I always succeed? No. But I believed in myself. If you believe in yourself, those situations will never be pressure.
If you could grab one of these kids after a bad game — 30 seconds — what would you tell him?
Past is the past. You can't change it. Just worry about what you're going to do right now and don't fret over the future. Take care of business right now and believe in yourself. You know how to play this game. This is what you've practiced. This is what you've worked on. Have confidence in yourself and believe in yourself.
That's the biggest thing. You can have all the qualities in the world — dedication, determination, desire. It all boils down to: do you believe in yourself and your ability to do what you've been training to do?
What's your message for all the March Madness players?
Enjoy the experience. Learn from the experience. Never be satisfied with what you're doing in life. Always give your best effort. And learn from your mistakes.
Watch the Full Conversation with Rick Barry
From fundamentals to longevity, hear directly from an NBA legend still competing at 82.
Watch the Full Interview on YouTube
What Rick Barry Uses to Stay in the Game
Rick Barry has spent a lifetime competing at the highest level. Decades of impact, repetition, and wear take a toll — even for the best.
Today, he’s still competing — now on the pickleball court — and taking care of his body is what keeps him there.
Rick wears GO Knee and Elbow Sleeves to support his joints, stay active, and keep doing what he loves — competing.
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GO Kinesiology + Compression Elbow Sleeve
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FAQs
What does Rick Barry use to support his knees and elbows?
Rick Barry wears GO Sleeves to support his joints and stay active. After decades of competition and impact, he uses them to help him keep moving and competing.
Can knee and elbow sleeves help with basketball wear and tear?
Over time, sports like basketball put repeated stress on the joints. Support sleeves can help provide stability and comfort so you can keep playing and training.
Why do athletes focus on prevention instead of waiting for pain?
As Rick Barry points out, taking care of your body before something goes wrong is key to staying active long-term. Preventative support helps athletes stay consistent and avoid setbacks.
Are GO Sleeves only for injuries?
No — GO Sleeves are designed for both support and performance. Many athletes wear them proactively to help maintain joint stability during activity.
What sports can GO Sleeves be used for?
GO Sleeves are commonly used in basketball, pickleball, running, training, and other activities that involve repetitive joint movement.
Rick Barry is a GO Sleeves ambassador and still competes in pickleball in his early 80s.
Taking care of your body isn't something most of us learned coming up. If you're dealing with joint discomfort or wondering what proactive maintenance looks like for you, it's worth having that conversation with your physician or physical therapist. I'm not a doctor — just someone who's been in the game long enough to know that what you do before something breaks matters more than what you do after.
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or injury. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
