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Charles Barkley
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Charles Barkley
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  • One of only four basketball players, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Karl Malone, to have record more than 23,000 points, 12,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists
  • Nicknames: "Sir Charles", "Round Mound of Rebound"
  • At 6'4" (1.93 m) was considered short for his position
  • Chosen NBA's MVP with his first season with the Phoenix Suns (1993)
  • Famously claimed that sports figures should not be role models and made a Nike commercial saying, "I am not a role model. Parents should be the role models"
  • Inadvertently spit on a little girl, sitting courtside, when he meant to hit a heckler; later became friends with the child and her family
  • Was plagued with injuries, including a back injury that almost caused him to retire, and a torn quadriceps tendon that finally did
  • Won two Olympic Gold Medals (1992 and 1996)
  • In 1996, was named to NBA's Top-50 Players of All-Time Team
  • Played himself in several movies, including Space Jam, He Got Game and The Year of the Yao
  • Published book in 2002, I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It
  • A private philanthropist, donated heavily to children's causes; one public contribution was a $3 million gift to Alabama schools
  • Has admitted to losing nearly $10 million over the years, gambling
  • Was nominated for NBA Hall of Fame in 2006

"I don't create controversies. They're there long before I open my mouth. I just bring them to your attention." – Charles Barkley

"These are my new shoes. They're good shoes. They won't make you rich like me, they won't make you rebound like me, they definitely won't make you handsome like me. They'll only make you have shoes like me. That's it." – Charles Barkley

"Now I'm just what America needs – another unemployed black man." – upon retiring from basketball – Charles Barkley

"I'm disappointed in myself that I haven't felt the same compassion for other people stricken with AIDS that I now feel for Magic." – when his friend, Magic Johnson, announced he was HIV-positive – Charles Barkley

"Barkley is like Magic [Johnson] and Larry [Bird] in that they don't really play a position. He plays everything; he plays basketball." – Bill Walton in SLAM magazine

Who2 Biography:

Charles Barkley

, Basketball Player

  • Born: 20 February 1963
  • Birthplace: Leeds, Alabama
  • Best Known As: Fast-talking NBA star and co-host of Inside the NBA

Outspoken and outrageous, Charles Barkley was one of the National Basketball Association's most colorful characters during his 16-year career. A 6' 6" forward, Barkley entered the NBA in 1984, signing with the Philadelphia 76ers. From 1992 to 1996 he played with the Phoenix Suns, and then was a member of the Houston Rockets until his mid-season retirement in December of 1999. Nicknamed "Sir Charles," he was throughout his career a frequent interview subject whose antics on and off the court keep him in the news. He was also an outstanding player: he was named an NBA All-Star 11 times, won 2 Olympic Gold Medals (1992 and 1996), and collected more than 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds in his career. In 2000 he signed a deal with Turner Sports and became a regular studio analyst on the TNT cable program Inside the NBA.

As a college player at Auburn, Barkley earned the nickname "The Round Mound of Rebound."

 
 
Black Biography: Charles Barkley

basketball player

Personal Information

Born Charles Wade Barkley, February 20, 1963, in Leeds, AL; son of Frank Barkley and Charcey Glenn (a domestic worker); married; wife's name, Maureen; children: Christiana.
Education: Attended Auburn University, 1981-84.

Career

Professional basketball player, 1984--. Selected fifth in first round of 1984 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft; member of Philadelphia 76ers, 1984-92, and Phoenix Suns, 1992--. Spokesperson for Nike (spots include mock opera segments and now famous one-on-one game with Godzilla); international endorsements include Japanese instant noodles; also lent his image to Claymation figure for public service ad. Author, with Roy Johnson, Jr., of autobiography Outrageous, 1991.

Life's Work

Charles Barkley, the talented and controversial star of the Phoenix Suns, was voted the 1992-93 Most Valuable Player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). For years, the outspoken, combative Barkley languished in relative obscurity as his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers, failed to advance in NBA playoff competition. But his inclusion on the 1992 United States Olympic Team and his 1992 trade to the Suns provided Barkley with a national audience for both his fabulous basketball talents and his legendary attitude.

At six-foot-five and 250 pounds, Barkley is short and stout by NBA standards, but that has not stopped him from becoming one of the premier power forwards in the league. Known in his early years as the "Round Mound of Rebound"--a cunning allusion to both his weight and his ability--Barkley has progressed through a decade of professional basketball while appearing to become stronger and more dominant each year. In 1991 New York Times Magazine reporter Jeff Coplon wrote that Barkley had "reached the stage where he can outrun, outjump, outwork, outsmart or outmuscle anyone who lines up against him." At the same time, "Sir Charles" developed a vast reputation for speaking his piece and exercising his temper both on and off the basketball court. Coplon described Barkley as "a wild child who will say or do whatever crosses his trip-wired mind." Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Bill Lyon characterized the volatile player as "a newly cork-popped magnum of champagne [who] spills all over the court, frothing and foaming."

In an era when sports superstars find it fashionable to shun the media, Barkley is a sound-bite darling. After any game, win or loss, he can be counted upon to offer opinions on just about everything from his performance to his teammates' abilities to current political events. From time to time his comments cause a tempest, but he rarely apologizes or reconsiders anything he says. Barkley is adamant on one point: he does not consider himself a role model for youngsters. Political correctness is for government officials, not basketball players, in his opinion. "I believe in expressing what you feel," he told the New York Times Magazine. "There are people who hide everything inside--and it's guys like that who kill whole families."

Charles Wade Barkley was born in rural Leeds, Alabama (population under 10,000), ten miles outside of Birmingham. At birth he weighed just six pounds. He suffered from anemia and required a complete blood transfusion at the tender age of six weeks. Barkley's parents were very young when he was born. They separated and divorced while Charles was still a baby. He was raised by his mother, grandmother, and a stepfather. Then, when Barkley was in grade school, his stepfather was killed in an automobile accident.

The emotional and financial setbacks the family faced did nothing to dampen Barkley's childhood ambitions. Coplon wrote: "In the 10th grade, when Barkley stood a chunky 5-10 and failed even to make his high school varsity, he vowed to anyone who'd listen that he was bound for the NBA. He shot baskets by himself into the night, seven nights a week; he jumped back and forth over a 4-foot high chain-link fence, for 15 minutes at a stretch." Barkley's mother, Charcey Glenn, told the Philadelphia Daily News: "Other kids were getting new cars and nice clothes, but Charles never complained. He'd say, 'One of these days, mama, I'll buy you everything you want.' I'd ask him how and he'd say, 'Basketball.' Other boys signed on at the cement plant down the road, but Charles said he wasn't gonna do that kind of work. He said he was gonna make it in the NBA, nothing was gonna stop him, and he meant it."

As a high school junior, Barkley was named a reserve on the varsity team at his high school. Then, during the summer before his senior year, he grew from five-foot-ten to six-foot-four, from 220 pounds to 240 pounds. As a senior, Barkley starred for the Leeds High team, averaging 19.1 points and 17.9 rebounds a game and leading his team to a 26-3 record and the state semifinals. Nevertheless, the only college scholarship offer came from tiny Snead Junior College.

Heads began to turn during the state high school semifinal, when Barkley scored 26 points playing against Alabama's most highly recruited player, Bobby Lee Hurt. An assistant to Auburn University coach Sonny Smith happened to be at the game. The assistant quickly phoned Smith to report his discovery--"a fat guy ... who can play like the wind," to quote Smith in the Washington Post.

Smith recruited Barkley, who majored in business management at Auburn. With his unusual shape and style, Barkley was an immediate sensation. "People concentrated on how much I weighed, not how well I played," Barkley remembered in People. "I led the conference in rebounding for three years, but nobody knew it. I was just a fat guy who could play basketball well." The relationship between Barkley and Smith began amicably enough but became rocky as the budding star rebelled against the coach's strict discipline. When Smith scolded, Barkley pointed to the bottom line: as a junior he was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year while helping Auburn to its second-best win-loss record in 25 years.

In 1984 Barkley was invited to the Olympic trials, where he earned a spot on the preliminary squad before it was cut from 20 to 16 players. His flashy style and his 360-degree spinning dunks did not entertain Olympic coach Bobby Knight. Barkley was cut before the team left for Los Angeles and the Olympic games. At that point he decided to leave Auburn one year early to turn pro, applying for the NBA's hardship draft.

The 1984 NBA draft was one of the best in years. The first four players picked were Akeem Olajuwon, Sam Bowie, Michael Jordan, and Sam Perkins. The Philadelphia 76ers took the All-American Barkley with the fifth pick. At the news conference announcing the pick, Sixers general manager Pat Williams joked of Barkley, "He's so fat, his bath tub has stretch marks." More seriously, Williams told the Los Angeles Times: "We were concerned about his weight and his work habits. He had a reputation for being hard to coach. He should have made the Olympic team, but he couldn't get along with Knight. There were people who said he'd eat himself out of the league. But we went for the bottom line. We asked one question: 'Can this guy play?' The unanimous answer was yes. Fine, we'd start with that. The other stuff we could deal with later."

Barkley joined a fine, competitive 76ers team with a veteran core of Moses Malone, Julius Erving and Maurice Cheeks. He was thrilled at the opportunity to play with such renowned superstars. Their talents deflected pressure and publicity from Barkley's first season, when he averaged 14 points and 8.6 rebounds in part-time play and exasperated coaches and teammates with his aggressive on-court antics. Within months of his arrival Barkley was feuding with 76ers coach Billy Cunningham and alienating all but Philadelphia's fans with his nonstop commentary during and after games. Even then Sir Charles firmly asserted his right to be himself. "I don't have to please the public to win, I just have to do my job," he said in the Philadelphia Daily News. "Like [Larry] Bird. He's the most obnoxious man I ever played against. I never saw a player so cocky, but he backs it up. I can respect that. Even the fans who get on me, I think, respect me as a player. If they don't ... well, you know, some people are just ignorant."

Barkley's insistence on freedom of expression soon marked him for controversy. As the 76ers slid toward mediocrity in the late 1980s, he made headlines for lashing out against his teammates. In 1987 he called the Sixers "a bad team that has to play perfect to win." Enraged management fined him $3,000 for the remark. He was also fined--for a slightly more substantial amount--after he spit on a young fan during a game. On that occasion, Barkley had been heckled from the stands by opposing fans until he retaliated by spitting in their direction. He missed the hecklers and hit a girl, to whom he later apologized. Barkley answered his critics in the Sporting News: "If I play with emotion I'm a hotdog. That's okay, because I know if I don't play with emotion, I won't play anywhere near my ability. If I play nonchalantly, I can't play right. Am I not supposed to play with emotion?"

That "emotion" enabled Barkley to evolve into a power forward who could muscle past much taller opponents, a player who remained among the league's top rebounders through several seasons. Even the declining fortunes of the 76ers did not mask Barkley's stunning ability to dominate games. He was determined to play his very best, both for his team and for himself. Esquire correspondent Mike Lupica wrote: "There will always be a lot of mouth to Charles Barkley. But there is also a lot of talent, the kind of talent only a handful of players will ever have."

In 1992 Barkley was given a second opportunity to represent America at the Olympic Games. He was a member of the first United States Olympic men's basketball team that featured professional players. The so-called "Dream Team," composed of the NBA's top stars, was the premier attraction in the 1992 Summer Games, and as usual Barkley drew the lion's share of publicity. As Jack McCallum noted in Sports Illustrated, Barkley was "the only member of the Dream Team to have elbowed an Angolan, drawn a technical [foul] for talking to the crowd, received gentle yet unmistakable rebukes from his teammates, been called on the carpet by the [United States Olympic Committee] and gotten alternately cheered and jeered in the pregame introductions." McCallum added: "Barkley has earned a difficult and quite curious double distinction in Barcelona. He has become, at once, America's greatest Olympic ambassador and its greatest potential nightmare, a man who can turn a grimace into a smile--or vice versa--in an instant." Barkley was a scoring leader for a Dream Team that easily captured the Olympic gold medal.

The controversy continued in Philadelphia when Barkley returned to his pro game. He was unhappy with the lackluster 76ers and was anxious to be traded to a team that might qualify for high-level playoff action. At the same time, the 76ers front office had grown wary of the volatile superstar, whose statements were beginning to have embarrassing repercussions for the entire team. The Sixers might not have advanced far in post-season play in the NBA in the 1990s, but most Americans recognized Charles Barkley. He drew the wrath of feminists by describing one particular game as the kind that "if you lose, you go home and beat your wife and kids." Statements like that--as well as his outspoken views on racism in sports, front office management, and his own worth--assured Barkley plenty of ink in the nation's newspapers.

At the end of the 1991-92 basketball season, Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns. Nearing the end of his own career, he was overjoyed to find himself on a talented squad with real championship potential. Asked what he planned to contribute to the Suns, Barkley gave his characteristic blunt answer in Sports Illustrated: "I'm not as good as I was ... but nobody is as good at 30 as they were at 27. I mean, I'm the only guy I know who could be top 10 in scoring, top 10 in rebounding and top 10 in field goal percentage and have a bad year."

Barkley meshed well with his new team and earned his first Most Valuable Player citation for the 1992-93 season. McCallum suggested in Sports Illustrated that Barkley won the MVP award not only because of his considerable talent and his stellar 1993 performance, but also because of the impact he had on the Suns as a team. Barkley proved to be the pivotal player Phoenix needed to advance to the NBA championships. He helped to motivate the other players, and he himself performed like a man with something important to prove. According to McCallum, Barkley took "a successful team and made it a championship contender."

But even as the Suns made their push to the finals in 1993, Barkley was suggesting that he was ready to retire. "I feel the end coming," he told Sports Illustrated. "I've had enough limelight, and I've got enough money." No one seemed to take Barkley's threats very seriously. Suns coach Paul Westphal said in 1993 that he hoped Barkley would play at least until 1996 and perhaps longer.

The Suns faced the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 NBA playoff finals, with the spotlight on Barkley and his friend and opponent, Michael Jordan--the "bad boy" of the Bulls who is generally considered to be the greatest player in basketball. The Bulls won the first two games of seven and seemed intent on sweeping the championships, but, largely through the efforts of Barkley, the Suns managed to pull off two victories before losing the NBA title to Chicago in game six. The loss, which gave the Bulls their third championship title in a row, was hard for Barkley to take. "It's just really difficult, you just hurt," he was quoted as saying in an Associated Press report.

Even without the NBA title, though, the Most Valuable Player award serves as a fine cap to Charles Barkley's unusual career. Lambasted for his weight, criticized for his brash statements, feared on court for his aggressive play, and heckled just about everywhere, Barkley has emerged as the one thing he never wanted to be: a role model for the rugged individualists of the 1990s. "The majority of people in the world don't do what it takes to win," Barkley told the New York Times Magazine. "Everyone is looking for the easy road.... I made up my mind a long time ago to be successful at whatever I did. If you want to be successful, can't nobody stop you."

Awards

Recipient of Schick Award, 1986, 1987, and 1988; member of All-Star team, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992; named to All-NBA first team, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991; named 1989-90 player of the year by the Sporting News; named Most Valuable Player of the 1991 All-Star game; Olympic gold medal for men's basketball, 1992; named NBA Most Valuable Player, 1993.

Further Reading

Books

  • Barkley, Charles, and Roy Johnson, Jr., Outrageous (autobiography), 1991.
Periodicals
  • Associated Press reports, June 19, 1993; June 20, 1993; June 21, 1993.
  • Boston Globe, November 9, 1984.
  • Chicago Tribune, February 15, 1987; February 1, 1988.
  • Esquire, March 1992.
  • Hartford Courant, December 22, 1987.
  • Jet, May 25, 1987.
  • Los Angeles Times, May 8, 1985; February 22, 1987; January 10, 1988; January 17, 1988.
  • Newsweek, May 24, 1993, pp. 64-65.
  • New York Times, April 24, 1984.
  • New York Times Magazine, March 17, 1991, p. 26.
  • People, April 27, 1987, p. 76.
  • Philadelphia Daily News, May 13, 1986; May 14, 1986; May 15, 1986; December 22, 1987.
  • Philadelphia Inquirer, June 20, 1984; April 28, 1985; April 18, 1986; May 1, 1986; February 1, 1987.
  • Sporting News, January 18, 1988.
  • Sports Illustrated, March 12, 1984; March 24, 1986, p. 32; January 11, 1988; August 10, 1992; November 9, 1992, cover story; March 8, 1993, pp. 25-27; April 12, 1993, p. 83; May 3, 1993, pp. 78-89; June 7, 1993, pp. 16-17; June 14, 1993, p. 84.
  • Time, June 14, 1993, p. 68.
  • Washington Post, April 23, 1984; February 2, 1987.

— Glen Macnow and Mark Kram

 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Charles Wade Barkley

(born Feb. 20, 1963, Leeds, Ala., U.S.) U.S. basketball player. He spent his collegiate career as a forward at Auburn University. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers (1984 – 91), the Phoenix Suns (1992 – 95), and the Houston Rockets (1996 – 99). He is known for his bruising play on the court and for his outspokenness off it.

For more information on Charles Wade Barkley, visit Britannica.com.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Barkley, Charles Wade
1963–, American basketball player, b. Leeds, Ala. After starring at Auburn Univ., he joined the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1984. Shorter, at about 6 ft 5 in. (196 cm), but heavier than most NBA forwards, he employed a bruising physical style, along with timing and court sense, to become one of the game's premier rebounders and scorers. In 1992 he played for the U.S. “Dream Team,” which won the Olympic gold medal; Barkley was involved in controversy over the roughness of his play. (He also played for the 1996 U.S. gold-medal Olympic team.) During 1992 he moved to the NBA's Phoenix Suns. The outspoken “Sir Charles,” a media favorite, joined the Houston Rockets in 1996; he retired in 2000.
 
Quotes By: Charles Barkley

Quotes:

"The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not."

"If I weren't earning $3 million a year to dunk a basketball, most people on the street would run in the other direction if they saw me coming."

"I know I'm never as good or bad as one single performance. I've never believed in my critics or my worshippers, and I've always been able to leave the game at the arena."

 
Wikipedia: Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
CharlesBarkley.jpg
Position Power forward
Nickname Sir Charles
The Round Mound of Rebound
The Chuckster
Height  ft  in ( m)
Weight  lb ( kg)
Nationality United States
Born February 20 1963 (1963--) (age 44)
Flag of Alabama Leeds, Alabama, U.S.
College Auburn University
Draft 5th overall, 1984
Philadelphia 76ers
Pro career 1984–2000
Former teams Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992)
Phoenix Suns (1992–1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–2000)
Awards SEC Player of the Year (1984)
SEC Player of the Decade (1980s)
NBA MVP (1993)
NBA All-Star MVP (1991)
11-time NBA All-Star
All-NBA First Team (1988–'91, '93)
All-NBA Second Team (1986, '87, '92, '94, '95)
All-NBA Third Team (1996)
All-Rookie Team (1984)
Olympic gold medalist (1992, '96)
One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History
Hall of Fame 2006

Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. Commonly nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the most dominating power forwards in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected to both the All-NBA First Team and All-NBA Second Team five times, and named to the All-NBA Third Team once. In 1993, he was voted the league's Most Valuable Player and during the NBA's 50th anniversary, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic games, and won two gold medals as a member of the United States' Dream Team. In 2006, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

As an eleven time NBA All-Star, Barkley was known for his aggressive play and outspoken demeanor. He was popular with fans and the media, and made the NBA's All-Interview Team for each of his last thirteen seasons in the league.[1] His tenacity and strength made him one of the most dominant rebounders in the league, despite his relative lack of height for playing the power forward position. Barkley was also a very versatile player, with the ability to score, rebound, assist, and defend; in 2000, he retired as one of only four players in NBA history to accumulate at least 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists in their career.[2]

Since retiring as a player, Barkley has had a highly successful career as a color commentator on basketball. He currently works with Turner Network Television (TNT) as a studio analyst for their coverage of NBA games.[3]

Early life

Barkley was born and raised in rural Leeds, Alabama, ten miles outside of Birmingham, and attended Leeds High School. As a junior, Barkley measured 5 feet 10 inches and weighed 220 pounds. Due to his lack of height, he failed to make the varsity team and was named as a reserve. However, during the summer Barkley grew to 6 feet 4 inches, 240 pounds, and earned a starting position on the varsity team in his senior year. He averaged 19.1 points and 17.9 rebounds per game, and led his team to a 26–3 record en route to the state semifinals.[4] Despite his play, Barkley did not garner any attention from college scouts until the state high school semifinals, where he scored 26 points against Alabama's most highly recruited player, Bobby Lee Hurt.[4] An assistant to Auburn University's head coach, Sonny Smith, was at the game and reported seeing "a fat guy... who can play like the wind."[5] Barkley was soon recruited by Smith, and majored in business management while attending Auburn.[4]

College

Barkley played collegiate basketball at Auburn University for three years. Although he struggled with weight problems, sometimes weighing over 300 pounds (136 kg), he excelled as a player and led the league in rebounding each year.[1] He became a popular crowd-pleaser, exciting the fans with dunks and blocked shots that belied his lack of height and overweight frame. It was not uncommon to see the hefty Barkley grab a defensive rebound and, instead of passing, dribble the entire length of the court and finish at the opposite end with a rim-rattling two-handed dunk. His physical size and skills ultimately earned him the nickname, "The Round Mound of Rebound."[3]

During his college career, Barkley played the center position, despite being significantly shorter than the average center. His height, frequently listed as 6 feet 6 inches, is actually closer to 6 feet 4 inches, as stated in his book I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It. He received numerous awards, including Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year (1984), two All-SEC (1983–84) selections, two Second Team All-SEC (1982–83) selections, and one Third Team All-American selection (1984).[6] In addition, Barkley was later named SEC Player of the Decade for the 1980s by the Birmingham Post-Herald.[7]

In Barkley's three year college career, he averaged 14.1 points on 65.2% field goal shooting, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game.[7] In 1984, he made his only appearance in the NCAA Tournament and finished with 23 points on 80% field goal shooting, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.[6] In honor of his career achievements, Barkley's number 34 Auburn jersey was officially retired on March 3, 2001.[7]

NBA career

Philadelphia 76ers

Barkley left before his final year at Auburn and made himself eligible for the 1984 NBA Draft. He was selected with the fifth pick in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers, two slots after the Chicago Bulls drafted Michael Jordan. He joined a veteran team that included Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Maurice Cheeks; players who took Philadelphia to the 1983 NBA championship. Under the tutelage of Malone, Barkley was able to manage his ongoing weight problems, and learned to prepare and condition himself properly for a game. He averaged 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during the regular season and earned a berth on the All-Rookie Team.[2] In the postseason, the Sixers advanced into the Eastern Conference Finals but were defeated in five games by the Boston Celtics.[8] As a rookie in the postseason, Barkley averaged 14.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.[1]

During his second year, Barkley became the team's leading rebounder and number two scorer, averaging 20.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.[2] He became the starter for the Sixers' power forward position and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.[1] He helped lead his team into the playoffs and averaged 25.0 points on 57.8% shooting from the field and 15.8 rebounds.[2] Despite his efforts, Philadelphia was eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks, four games to three, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In the 1986-87 season, Moses Malone was traded to the Washington Bullets and Barkley began to assume control as the team leader. He earned his first rebounding title, averaging 14.6 rebounds per game, and also led the league in offensive rebounds with 5.7 per game.[2] He averaged 23.0 points on 59.4% shooting from the field,[2] earning his first trip to an NBA All-Star game and All-NBA Second Team honors for the second straight season. In the playoffs, Barkley averaged 24.6 points and 12.6 rebounds in a losing effort,[9] for the second straight year, to the Bucks in a five-game first round playoff series.[10]

Image:Barkley 1988 SI Cover.jpg‎
Charles Barkley making his first appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1988.

The following season, Julius Erving announced his retirement and Barkley became the Sixers' franchise player.[1] Playing in 80 games and 300 more minutes than his nearest teammate, Barkley had his most productive season, averaging 28.3 points on 58.7% field goal shooting and 11.9 rebounds per game.[2] He appeared in his second All-Star Game and was named to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career. His singular celebrity status as the Sixers franchise player led to his first appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated.[1] But, for the first time since the 1974-75 season, the 76ers failed to make the playoffs.[1] In the 1988-89 season, Barkley continued to play well, averaging 25.8 points on 57.9% shooting and 12.5 rebounds per game.[2] He earned his third straight All-Star Game appearance and was named to the All-NBA First team for the second straight season. However, despite Barkley contributing 27.0 points on 64.4% field goal shooting, 11.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists,[9] the 76ers were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the New York Knicks.

During the 1989-90 season, despite receiving more first-place votes,[11] Barkley finished second in MVP voting behind the Los Angeles Lakers' Magic Johnson. He was named Player of the Year by both The Sporting News and Basketball Weekly.[1] He averaged 25.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game and a career high 60% field-goal percentage.[2] He was named to the All-NBA First Team for the third consecutive year and earned his fourth All-Star selection. He helped Philadelphia win 53 regular season games, only to lose to the Chicago Bulls in a five-game Eastern Conference Semifinals series.[12] Barkley averaged 24.7 points and 15.5 rebounds in another postseason loss.[9] His exceptional play continued into his seventh season, where he averaged 27.6 points on 57% field goal shooting and 10.1 rebounds per game.[2] His fifth straight All-Star Game appearance proved to be his best yet. He led the East to a 116–114 win over the West with 17 points and 22 rebounds, the most rebounds in an All-Star Game since Wilt Chamberlain recorded 22 in 1967.[1] For his efforts, Barkley was presented with Most Valuable Player honors at the All-Star Game, and at the end of the season, named to the All-NBA First Team for the fourth straight year.[1] In the postseason, Philadelphia lost again to Jordan's Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with Barkley contributing 24.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.[9]

The 1991-92 season was Barkley's final year in Philadelphia. In his last season, he wore number 32 instead of his 34 to honor Magic Johnson,[13] who announced prior to the start of the season that he was HIV-positive. Although the 76ers initially retired the number 32 in honor of Billy Cunningham, it was unretired for Barkley to wear. Following Johnson's announcement, Barkley also apologized for having made light of his condition. Responding to concerns that players may contract HIV by contact with Johnson, Barkley flippantly stated, "We're just playing basketball. It's not like we're going out to have unprotected sex with Magic."[14]

In his final season with the Sixers, averaging 23.1 points on 55.2% shooting and 11.1 rebounds per game,[2] Barkley earned his sixth straight All-Star appearance and was named to the All-NBA Second Team; his seventh straight appearance on either the first or second team. He ended his 76ers career ranked fourth in team history in total points (14,184), third in scoring average (23.3 ppg), third in rebounds (7,079), eighth in assists (2,276), and second in field-goal percentage (.576).[1] He led Philadelphia in rebounding and field-goal percentage for seven consecutive seasons and in scoring for six straight years.[2] However, after several early-round playoff defeats, and with the Sixers failing to make the postseason in the 1991-92 season with a 35–47 record,[15] Barkley demanded a trade out of Philadelphia.[3] On July 17, 1992, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang.[3]

During Barkley's eight seasons in Philadelphia, he became a household name, and was one of the few NBA players to have a figure published by Kenner's Starting Lineup toy line and also had his own signature shoe line with Nike. However, his outspoken and aggressive play also caused a few scandals, notoriously a fight with Detroit Pistons center Bill Laimbeer in 1990, an event which drew record fines,[16] and the infamous spitting incident.

Spitting incident

In March 1991, during an overtime game in New Jersey, a courtside heckler had been yelling racial epithets throughout the game at Barkley.[17] Upset by the heckler's remarks, Barkley turned to spit at him, but, as he later described, did not "get enough foam", missed and mistakenly spat on a young girl.[17] Rod Thorn, the then-NBA's president of operations, suspended Barkley without pay and fined him $10,000 for spitting and using abusive language at the fan.[18] It became a national story and Barkley was vilified for it.[17] However, Barkley eventually developed a friendship with the girl and her family.[3] He apologized, and among other things, provided tickets to future games.[19]

Upon retirement, Barkley was later quoted as stating, "I was fairly controversial, I guess, but I regret only one thing—the spitting incident. But you know what? It taught me a valuable lesson. It taught me that I was getting way too intense during the game. It let me know I wanted to win way too bad. I had to calm down. I wanted to win at all costs. Instead of playing the game the right way and respecting the game, I only thought about winning."[20]

Phoenix Suns

The trade to Phoenix in the 1992-93 season went well for both Barkley and the Suns. He averaged 25.6 points on 52% shooting, 12.2 rebounds, and a career high 5.1 assists per game,[2] leading the Suns to an NBA best 62–20 record.[21] For his efforts, Barkley won the league's Most Valuable Player Award and was named to his seventh straight All-Star appearance. He became the third player ever to win league MVP honors in the season immediately after being traded, established multiple career highs, and led Phoenix to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1976.[1] Despite Barkley's proclamation to Jordan, that it was "destiny" for the Suns to win the title, they were defeated in six games by the Bulls. He averaged 26.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per game during the postseason.[9]

As a result of severe back pains, Barkley began to speculate his last year in Phoenix during the 1993-94 season.[1] Playing through the worst injury problems of his career, Barkley managed 21.6 points on 49.5% shooting and 11.2 rebounds per game.[2] He was selected to his eighth consecutive All-Star game, but did not play because of a torn right quadriceps tendon,[1] and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. With Barkley fighting injuries, the Suns still managed a 56–26 record and made it to the Western Conference Semifinals. But despite holding a 2–0 lead in the series,[22] the Suns lost in seven games to the eventual champion Houston Rockets.[22] Despite his injuries, in Game 3 of a first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, Barkley hit 23 of 31 field-goal attempts and finished with 56 points, the then-third-highest total ever in a playoff game.[1][9] After contemplating retirement in the offseason,[1] Barkley returned for his eleventh season and continued to battle injuries.[3] He struggled during the first half of the season,[1] but managed to gradually improve, earning his ninth consecutive appearance in the All-Star Game. He averaged 23 points on 48.6% field goal shooting and 11.1 rebounds per game,[2] while leading the Suns to a 59–23 record.[23] In the postseason, despite having a 3–1 lead in the series,[23] the Suns once again lost to the defending champion Rockets in seven games.[23] Barkley averaged 25.7 points on 50% field goal shooting and 13.4 rebounds per game in the postseason,[9] but was limited in Game 7 of the Semifinals by a leg injury.[1]

The 1995-96 season was Barkley's last on the Phoenix Suns. He led the team in scoring, rebounds, and steals, averaging 23.3 points on 50% field goal shooting, 11.6 rebounds, and a career high 77.7% free throw shooting.[2] He earned his tenth appearance in an All-Star Game as the top vote-getter among Western Conference players and posted his 18th career triple-double on November 22.[9] He also became just the tenth player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds in their career.[1][2] In the postseason, Barkley averaged 25.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game in a four-game first round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[24][9] After the Suns closed out the season with a 41–41 record and a first-round playoff loss, Barkley was traded to Houston in exchange for Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Mark Bryant, and Chucky Brown.[25]

During his career with the Suns, Barkley excelled as a player, earning All-NBA and All-Star honors in each of his four seasons. However, the always outspoken Barkley continued to stir up controversy during the 1993 season, when he famously claimed that sports figures should not be role models.[26]

Role model controversy

Throughout his career, Barkley had been arguing that athletes should not be considered role models.[3] He stated, "A million guys can dunk a basketball in jail, should they be role models?" In 1993, his argument prompted national news when he wrote the text for his "I am not a role model" Nike commercial. Dan Quayle, the former Vice President of the United States called it a "family-values message" for Barkley's oft-ignored call for parents and teachers to quit looking to him to "raise your kids" and instead be role models themselves.[25]

Barkley's message sparked a great public debate about the nature of role models. He argued,

I think the media demands that athletes be role models because there's some jealousy involved. It's as if they say, this is a young black kid playing a game for a living and making all this money, so we're going to make it tough on him. And what they're really doing is telling kids to look up to someone they can't become, because not many people can be like we are. Kids can't be like Michael Jordan.[25]

Thirteen years later, on May 23, 2006, ESPN Classic aired a "The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame..." episode on Barkley's controversial commercial. The show discussed five main reasons why they agreed with Barkley's "I am not a role model" message. The number one reason stated was, "He really wasn't a role model. Although many fans believed Barkley's candor made him one of the NBA's most lovable players, his behavior occasionally backed up his claims, like in the aforementioned 1991-92 season game where he spat on a 9-year old girl, and an incident in Orlando in which he threw a man through a window."

Houston Rockets

The trade to the Houston Rockets in the 1996-97 season was Barkley's last chance at capturing an NBA championship title. He joined a veteran team that included two of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players, Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. He continued to battle injuries throughout the season and played only 53 games, missing fourteen because of a laceration and bruise on his left pelvis, eleven because of a sprained right ankle, and four due to suspensions.[1] He became the team's second leading scorer, averaging 19.2 points on 48.4% shooting;[2] the first time since his rookie year that he averaged below 20 points per game. With Olajuwon taking most of the shots, Barkley focused primarily on rebounding, averaging 13.5 per game, the second best in his career.[2] The Rockets ended the regular season with a 57–25 record and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they were defeated in six games by the Utah Jazz.[1] Barkley averaged 17.9 points and 12.0 rebounds per game in another postseason loss.[27]

The 1997-98 season was another injury plagued year for Barkley. He averaged 15.2 points on 48.5% shooting and 11.7 rebounds per game.[2] The Rockets ended the season with a 41–41 record and were eliminated in five games by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs. Limited by injuries, Barkley played four games and averaged career lows of 9.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game.[9] During the league-lockout shortened season, Barkley played 42 regular season games and managed 16.1 points on 47.8% field goal shooting and 12.3 rebounds per game.[2] He became the second player in NBA history, following Wilt Chamberlain, to accumulate 23,000 points, 12,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists in their career.[1] The Rockets concluded the shortened season with a 31–19 record and advanced to the playoffs.[28] In his last postseason appearance, Barkley averaged 23.5 points on 52.9% field goal shooting and 13.8 rebounds per game in a first round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.[9] He concluded his postseason career averaging 22.1 points on 54.1% field goal shooting, 11.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.[1]

In his final year in the NBA, Barkley's season and career ended prematurely after rupturing his left quadriceps tendon on December 8, 1999 in Philadelphia, where his career began.[29] Before the injury, Barkley averaged 14.5 points on 47.7% field goal shooting and 10.5 rebounds per game.[2] Refusing to allow his injury to be the last image of his career, Barkley returned after four months for one final game. On April 19, 2000, in a home game against the Vancouver Grizzlies, Barkley scored a memorable basket on an offensive rebound and putback, a common trademark during his career. He accomplished what he set out to do after being activated from the injured list, and walked off the court to a standing ovation.[30] He stated, "I can't explain what tonight meant. I did it for me. I've won and lost a lot of games, but the last memory I had was being carried off the court. I couldn't get over the mental block of being carried off the court. It was important psychologically to walk off the court on my own."[30] After the basket, Barkley immediately retired and concluded his sixteen year NBA Hall of Fame career.

Olympic career

Olympic medal record
Men's Basketball
Gold 1992 Barcelona United States
Gold 1996 Atlanta United States

Barkley competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic games and won two gold medals as a member of the United States men's basketball team. In 1992, international rules, which had previously prevented NBA players from playing in the Olympics were changed, allowing Barkley and fellow NBA players to compete in the Olympics for the first time. The result was the legendary Dream Team, which went 6–0 in the Olympic qualifying tournament and 8–0 against Olympic opponents. The team averaged an Olympic record 117.3 points a game and won games by an average of 43.8 points.[31] Barkley led the team with 18.0 points on 71.1% field goal shooting and set a then-Olympic single game scoring record with 30 points in a 127–83 victory over Brazil.[31] He also set a U.S. Men's Olympic record for highest three point field goal percentage with 87.5% and added 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game.[32]

At the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, Barkley led the team in scoring, rebounds, and field goal percentage. He averaged 12.4 points on 81.6% field goal shooting and 6.6 rebounds per game, as the team once again compiled a perfect 8–0 record and captured gold medal honors.[33]

Player profile

Barkley primarily played the power forward position. He was known for his unusual build as a basketball player, stockier than most small forwards, yet shorter than the league's power forwards. However, Barkley was still capable of outplaying bigger players and overpowering smaller opponents.[1] He was fluid on the fast break, a powerful jumper, an accurate shooter, and one of the NBA's premier clutch players.[1] He was a prolific scorer who averaged 22.1 points per game for his career,[9] with the ability to score on the perimeter or finish inside with a powerful dunk. He scored with great efficiency and averaged 54.1% field goal accuracy for his career, including a career high 60% during the 1989-90 NBA season.[9]

Frequently listed as 6 feet 6 inches, but measuring a shade under 6 feet 5 inches,[34][35] Barkley was the shortest player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding, and averaged a career high 14.6 rebounds per game during the 1986-87 season.[36] His tenacious and aggressive play helped cement his legacy as one of the greatest rebounders in NBA history, as he averaged 11.7 rebounds per game and totaled 12,546 rebounds for his career.[9] He topped the NBA in offensive rebounding for three straight years,[3] and was capable of controlling a defensive rebound, dribbling the length of the court, and finishing at the rim with a powerful dunk.[36] His defensive talents were also equally impressive. He concluded his career as the second All-Time leader in steals for the power forward position,[37] and despite being undersized, also finished among the All-Time leaders in blocked shots.[38]

Barkley's talents were perhaps best summarized by NBA Hall-of-Famer Bill Walton. In a SLAM magazine issue ranking NBA greats, he stated, "Barkley is like Magic [Johnson] and Larry [Bird] in that they don't really play a position. He plays everything; he plays basketball. There is nobody who does what Barkley does. He's a dominant rebounder, a dominant defensive player, a three-point shooter, a dribbler, a playmaker."[3]

Legacy

During his sixteen year NBA career, Barkley was regarded as one of the most controversial, outspoken, and dominating players in the history of basketball. His impact on the sport went far beyond his rebounding titles, assists, scoring, and consistent play.[19] His larger than life persona and confrontational mannerisms often led to technical fouls and fines, and sometimes gave rise to national controversy; such as when he was featured in ads that rejected pro athletes as role models and famously declared, "I am not a role model."[39] Although his words often lead to controversy, according to Barkley his mouth never caused trouble because it always spoke the truth.[19] He stated, "I don't create controversies. They're there long before I open my mouth. I just bring them to your attention."[3]

Barkley was frequently fined for on-court fights with NBA players, such as Shaquille O'Neal, Bill Laimbeer, and Charles Oakley, among others.[40] He was also equally confrontational off the court. He was arrested for breaking a man's nose during a fight after a game with the Milwaukee Bucks [41] and also for throwing a man through a plate-glass window after being struck with a glass of ice.[42] Notwithstanding these occurrences, Barkley continued to remain popular with the fans and media. In 1993, he was approached in a bar by a woman who wanted an autograph. She then asked for more than one, but after Barkley refused to sign more, she tore the first one and threw it into Barkley's face. He reacted by pouring a beer over her head.[43] After the incident, the media and fans placed the blame on the woman, who later admitted to being "out of line."[43]

As a player, Barkley was a perennial All-Star who earned league MVP honors in 1993.[3] He employed a bruising physical style of play that earned him the nicknames "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound."[44] He was named to the All-NBA team eleven times and earned two gold medals as a member of the United States Olympic Basketball team. He led both teams in scoring and was instrumental in helping the 1992 "Dream Team" and 1996 Men's Basketball team compile a perfect 16–0 record.[31][33] He retired as one of only four players in NBA history to record at least 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists in their career.[3]

In recognition of his collegiate and NBA achievements, Barkley's number 34 jersey was officially retired by the University of Auburn on March 3, 2001. In the same month, the Philadelphia 76ers also officially retired Barkley's jersey.[45] Several years later, the Phoenix Suns honored Barkley as well by retiring his jersey and including him within the "Suns Ring of Honor." He joined Alvan Adams, Connie Hawkins, Tom Chambers, Dan Majerle, Walter Davis, Dick Van Arsdale, Paul Westphal and Kevin Johnson as the only players included in the "Suns Ring of Honor."[46]

Career statistics

Career averages
Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1984-85 PHI 82 28.6 .545 .167 .733 8.60 1.9 1.16 .98 14.0
1985-86 PHI 80 36.9 .572 .227 .685 12.80 3.9 2.16 1.56 20.0
1986-87 PHI 68 40.3 .594 .202 .761 14.60 4.9 1.75 1.53 23.0
1987-88 PHI 80 39.6 .587 .280 .751 11.90 3.2 1.25 1.29 28.3
1988-89 PHI 79 39.1 .579 .216 .753 12.50 4.1 1.59 .85 25.8
1989-90 PHI 79 39.1 .600 .217 .749 11.50 3.9 1.87 .63 25.2
1990-91 PHI 67 37.3 .570 .284 .722 10.10 4.2 1.64 .49 27.6
1991-92 PHI 75 38.4 .552 .234 .695 11.10 4.1 1.81 .59 23.1
1992-93 PHO 76 37.6 .520 .305 .765 12.20 5.1 1.57 .97 25.6
1993-94 PHO 65 35.4 .495 .270 .704 11.20 4.6 1.55 .57 21.6
1994-95 PHO 68 35.0 .486 .338 .748 11.10 4.1 1.62 .66 23.0
1995-96 PHO 71 37.1 .500 .280 .777 11.60 3.7 1.61 .79 23.2
1996-97 HOU 53 37.9 .484 .283 .694 13.50 4.7 1.30 .47 19.2
1997-98 HOU 68 33.0 .485 .214 .746 11.70 3.2 1.04 .41 15.2
1998-99 HOU 42 36.3 .478 .160 .719 12.30 4.6 1.02 .31 16.1
1999-00 HOU 20 31.0 .477 .231 .645 10.50 3.2 .70 .20 14.5
Career 1,073 36.7 .541 .266 .735 11.70 3.9 1.54 .83 22.1
Playoff 123 39.4 .513 .255 .717 12.90 3.9 1.57 .88 23.0
All-Star 9 23.2 .495 .250 .625 6.70 1.8 1.33 .44 12.6
Career totals
Year Team MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A TRB AST STL BLK PTS
1984-85 PHI 2,347 427-783 1-6 293-400 703 155 95 80 1,148
1985-86 PHI 2,952 595-1,041 17-75 396-578 1,026 312 173 125 1,603
1986-87 PHI 2,740 557-937 21-104 429-564 994 331 119 104 1,564
1987-88 PHI 3,170 753-1,283 44-157 714-951 951 254 100 103 2,264
1988-89 PHI 3,088 700-1,208 35-162 602-799 986 325 126 67 2,037
1989-90 PHI 3,085 706-1,177 20-92 557-744 909 307 148 50 1,989
1990-91 PHI 2,498 665-1,167 44-155 475-658 680 284 110 33 1,849
1991-92 PHI 2,881 622-1,126 32-137 454-653 830 308 136 44 1,730
1992-93 PHO 2,859 716-1,376 67-220 445-582 928 385 119 74 1,944
1993-94 PHO 2,298 518-1,046 48-178 318-452 727 296 101 37 1,402
1994-95 PHO 2,382 554-1,141 74-219 379-507 756 276 110 45 1,561
1995-96 PHO 2,632 580-1,160 49-175 440-566 821 262 114 56 1,649
1996-97 HOU 2,009 335-692 58-205 288-415 716 248 69 25 1,016
1997-98 HOU 2,243 361-744 18-84 296-397 794 217 71 28 1,036
1998-99 HOU 1,526 240-502 4-25 192-267 516 192 43 13 676
1999-00 HOU 620 106-222 6-26 71-110 209 63 14 4 289
Career 39,330 8,435-15,605 538-2,020 6,349-8,643 12,546 4,215 1,648 888 23,757
Playoff 4,849 1,009-1,965 64-251 751-1,048 1,582 482 193 108 2,833
All-Star 209 45-91 3-12 20-32 60 16 12 4 113

Post-basketball life

Turner Network Television (TNT)

Barkley currently works as a studio analyst for Turner Network Television (TNT). He appears on the network's NBA coverage during pre-game and halftime shows, in addition to special NBA events. He also appears on an original program for the Network entitled Inside the NBA, a post-game show during which Barkley, Ernie Johnson Jr., and Kenny Smith recap and comment on NBA games that have occurred during the day and also on general NBA affairs.

During the broadcast of a game, in which Barkley was courtside with Marv Albert, Barkley poked fun at NBA official Dick Bavetta's age. Albert replied to Barkley, "I believe Dick would beat you in a footrace." In spite of the remark, Barkley went on to challenge Bavetta to a race at the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend for $50,000. The winner was to choose a charity to which the money would be donated. The pair raced for three and a half lengths of the basketball court until Barkley ultimately won. After the event, the two embraced in a show of good sportsmanship.[47]

Gambling

Barkley is well known for his compulsive gambling. In an interview with ESPN's Trey Wingo, he revealed that he lost approximately $10 million through gambling.[48] In addition, he also admitted to losing $2.5 million "in a six hour period" while playing blackjack.[48] Although Barkley openly admits to his problem, he claims it is not serious since he can afford to support the habit.[48] When approached by fellow TNT analyst Ernie Johnson about the issue, Barkley replied, "It's not a problem. If you're a drug addict or an alcoholic, those are problems. I gamble for too much money. As long as I can continue to do it I don't think it's a problem. Do I think it's a bad habit? Yes, I think it's a bad habit. Am I going to continue to do it? Yes, I'm going to continue to do it."[49]

Despite suffering big losses, Barkley also claims to have won on several occasions. During a trip to Las Vegas, he claims to have won $700,000 from playing blackjack and betting on the Indianapolis Colts to defeat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.