Ricky Berry
Ricky Berry (October 6, 1964 – August 14, 1989) was an American professional basketball player who played as a shooting guard for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] Drafted 18th overall in the first round of the 1988 NBA draft out of San Jose State University, Berry enjoyed a promising rookie season in 1988–89, averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 48.3% from the field.[1] His career was tragically cut short at age 24 when he died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Carmichael, California, amid personal struggles including marital issues and financial pressures.[2] Born in Lansing, Michigan, Berry grew up in a basketball-oriented family and developed into a highly skilled scorer known for his athleticism and shooting ability.[2] He began his college career at Oregon State University before transferring to San Jose State University, where he became the program's greatest player, averaging 24.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a senior while shooting 44.5% from three-point range.[3] Scouts praised his potential, with one comparing him to "Reggie Miller with a handle," highlighting his smooth scoring and ball-handling skills.[2] In the NBA, Berry quickly adapted to professional play, signing a three-year contract worth over $300,000 in his first season and posting a career-high 34 points against the Golden State Warriors on February 9, 1989.[2] Standing at 6 feet 8 inches and weighing 205 pounds, he brought versatility as a forward-guard hybrid to the Kings' roster.[1] Off the court, however, Berry faced mounting challenges from a recent marriage, family expectations, and the demands of homeownership in the Sacramento suburbs, factors that contributed to his untimely death less than a month into the offseason.[4] His suicide note referenced frustrations with "little things" in his marriage, and he had not sought professional mental health support prior to the incident.[2] Berry's passing left a profound impact on teammates and the NBA community, underscoring early discussions on player mental health.[5]Early Life
Family Background
Ricky Berry was born on October 6, 1964, in Lansing, Michigan, to parents Bill Berry and Clarice Berry.[1][5] At the time, his father was a student-athlete on the Michigan State University basketball team, where he had played from 1961 to 1964.[6] The Berry family relocated to the Sacramento, California, area in 1966, shortly after Ricky's second birthday, as Bill Berry launched his coaching career at Highlands High School in North Highlands.[7] This move marked the beginning of a peripatetic lifestyle tied to Bill's professional pursuits in basketball, including subsequent roles at Cosumnes River Junior College from 1970 to 1972 and as head coach at San Jose State University from 1979 to 1989.) The household revolved around the sport, with frequent travels for games and practices fostering an environment steeped in basketball culture.[2] Ricky grew up with a younger sister, Pamela, in this basketball-centric family dynamic, where parental expectations and the father's career profoundly shaped daily life.[5] Early exposure came through accompanying his father to coaching duties; notably, at age 14, Ricky served as a ball boy for Michigan State's 1979 NCAA championship team during Bill's stint as an assistant coach under Jud Heathcote.[4][7] These experiences immersed him in elite competition from a young age, blending familial support with the rigors of the sport.[2]High School Career
Ricky Berry attended Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, California, graduating in 1983 after the Berry family relocated there in 1980 when his father became head coach at nearby San Jose State University.[4] During his high school tenure, Berry emerged as a standout talent, scoring 1,259 points from his junior through senior years (1981–1983) and ranking among the Central Coast Section's all-time leading scorers.[8] He averaged more than 20 points per game overall, including 20.2 points as a junior, showcasing his scoring prowess. Berry developed physically into a 6 ft 7 in (some sources list 6 ft 8 in) small forward with versatile skills, particularly in shooting, scoring, and rebounding, which helped elevate the team's performance.[4] [1] Under his leadership, Live Oak captured Blossom Hill Valley League championships in both his junior and senior seasons (1982 and 1983).[9] His accomplishments earned him induction into the Live Oak High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988.[10] Berry's high school success drew recruitment interest from multiple colleges, positioning him as a promising prospect for the next level.[4]Collegiate Career
Oregon State University
Ricky Berry enrolled at Oregon State University in the fall of 1983, selecting the Beavers over his father's program at San Jose State to preserve their father-son relationship amid concerns over potential coaching conflicts raised by Bill Berry, a demanding assistant coach who had read accounts of similar familial strains in basketball.[7][11] In his freshman season of 1983–84, Berry appeared in 21 games for Oregon State, starting 6, while averaging 18.4 minutes, 3.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game, shooting 39.5% from the field.[3] He contributed as a primarily bench forward on a talented Beavers squad led by coach Ralph Miller and featuring future NBA player A.C. Green, which compiled a 22–7 overall record and a 15–3 mark to claim the Pac-10 regular-season title before reaching the NCAA Tournament's second round.[12] Berry's role was limited by the team's established depth at forward, where he often came off the bench in a supporting capacity during Oregon State's dominant conference campaign.[12] His adjustment to college basketball included navigating an injury that hampered his early progress, yet he showed promise in spot contributions despite averaging under 4 points per game.[13] After one year, Berry chose to transfer, citing the constrained opportunities for playing time on a veteran-laden roster as a key factor in his decision to seek a more prominent position elsewhere.[13]San Jose State University
After playing a limited role as a freshman at Oregon State University, Ricky Berry transferred to San Jose State University in 1985 to reunite with his father, Bill Berry, who had become the Spartans' head coach.[14] He sat out the 1984–85 season per NCAA transfer rules before emerging as a star forward over the next three years.[3] Berry's performance at San Jose State showed steady progression across his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons from 1985 to 1988. As a sophomore in 1985–86, he averaged 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 48.5% from the field.[3] In 1986–87, his scoring rose to 20.2 points per game, with 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, earning him All-PCAA Tournament honors as the Spartans reached the conference tournament.[3] By his senior year in 1987–88, Berry led the PCAA in scoring with 24.2 points per game, alongside 7.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists, while connecting on 44.5% of his three-point attempts (2.0 makes on 4.4 attempts per game).[3] His versatility as a 6-foot-8 forward—combining long-range shooting, rebounding prowess, and playmaking—made him a complete offensive threat.[3] Berry received First-team All-PCAA recognition in each of his three seasons (1986–1988) and was named an honorable mention All-American as a senior.[3][15] Under his leadership, the Spartans posted competitive records of 16–12 in 1985–86 (fourth in PCAA), 16–14 in 1986–87 (second in PCAA), and 14–15 in 1987–88 (sixth in PCAA), qualifying for the PCAA tournament each year.[16][17][18] In recognition of his contributions, San Jose State retired his number 34 jersey, one of only three such honors in program history.[19]Professional Career
1988 NBA Draft and Rookie Season
Ricky Berry was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft, held on June 28, 1988.[1] Coming off a senior season at San Jose State University where he averaged 24.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, Berry was viewed as a versatile forward with strong scoring potential.[18] He signed a multi-year rookie contract with the Kings on August 1, 1988, and was assigned jersey number 34.[20][21] In his only NBA season, the 1988–89 campaign, Berry appeared in 64 games for the Kings, starting 21 of them while averaging 22.0 minutes per game.[1] He contributed 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, showcasing efficiency as a perimeter shooter with a 40.6% three-point field goal percentage.[1] One of his standout performances came on February 9, 1989, when he scored a career-high 34 points against the Golden State Warriors.[2] Berry also recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a game against the Warriors on April 15, 1989.[22] As a 6-foot-8 swingman capable of playing multiple positions, Berry provided the Kings with outside shooting and versatility, adapting to the league's physical demands under head coach Jerry Reynolds.[2] He played alongside teammates such as Wayman Tisdale, Kenny Smith, and Ed Pinckney on a Kings squad that finished the season with a 27–55 record, placing sixth in the Pacific Division and missing the playoffs.[23][2] Late in the season, Berry elevated his production, averaging 18.2 points over his final 11 games, signaling growing comfort in the NBA.[2]Career Statistics and Achievements
Ricky Berry's NBA career was limited to one season with the Sacramento Kings in 1988–89, during which he appeared in 64 games, averaging 22.0 minutes per game.[1] Over these contests, he recorded 706 total points, 197 rebounds, 80 assists, 37 steals, and 22 blocks, while committing 82 turnovers.[1] His shooting efficiency stood out, with a 45.0% field goal percentage on 567 attempts, including 40.6% from three-point range on 160 tries, and 78.9% from the free-throw line on 166 attempts.[1]| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Games Played (GP) | 64 |
| Minutes Per Game (MPG) | 22.0 |
| Points Per Game (PPG) | 11.0 |
| Rebounds Per Game (RPG) | 3.1 |
| Assists Per Game (APG) | 1.3 |
| Steals Per Game (SPG) | 0.6 |
| Blocks Per Game (BPG) | 0.3 |
| Field Goal % (FG%) | .450 |
| Three-Point % (3P%) | .406 |
| Free Throw % (FT%) | .789 |