During World War II, Cliff Barker dropped out of college to serve in the Air Force. His B-17 bomber was shot down over Germany, and he spent 16 months as a prisoner of war. In 1948, he was a member of the Kentucky “Fabulous Five”, that won the championship with a 36-3 record. All five were on the 1948 Olympic basketball team, forming a major part of the gold medal winning squad. They won the NCAA title again the following year, with a 32-2 record. In 1949 the NBA was formed from a merger of the National Basketball League and the Basketball Association of America. Though most of the teams in the new league were already established, a new team was formed called the Indianapolis Olympians, composed of (and partly owned by) the five Kentucky Olympians including Cliff Barker, who served a dual role as player-coach. That first year, 1949-50, Barker helped the Indianapolis team to a division championship though they did not win the league title. Barker played for two more years, and coached for one more, before retiring. Following his basketball career, Barker was a teacher and coach at various high schools.
United States