Charles Barkley

This article is about the American basketball player. For other people named Charles Barkley, see Charles Barkley (disambiguation).

Charles Barkley
Barkley in 2019
Personal information
Born (1963-02-20) February 20, 1963 (age 61)
Leeds, Alabama, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[1]
Listed weight252 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High schoolLeeds (Leeds, Alabama)
CollegeAuburn (1981–1984)
NBA draft1984: 1st round, 5th overall pick
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Playing career1984–2000
PositionPower forward / small forward
Number34, 32, 4
Career history
1984–1992Philadelphia 76ers
1992–1996Phoenix Suns
1996–2000Houston Rockets
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points23,757 (22.1 ppg)
Rebounds12,546 (11.7 rpg)
Assists4,215 (3.9 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Basketball Hall of Fame
Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
Medals
Representing the  United States
Men's national basketball team
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Men's basketball
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Men's basketball
FIBA Americas Championship
Gold medal – first place 1992 Portland Men's basketball

Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player who is a television analyst on TNT and CBS Sports. Nicknamed "Sir Charles", "the Bread Truck", and "the Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Though shorter than the typical power forward, he used his strength and aggression to become one of the NBA's best rebounders and scorers. Widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history, Barkley was an 11-time NBA All-Star, 11-time member of the All-NBA Team, and the 1993 Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams.

An All-American at Auburn University, Barkley was drafted as a junior by the Philadelphia 76ers with the fifth pick of the 1984 NBA draft. In his rookie season, Barkley was named to the All-Rookie First Team in 1985. In the 1986–87 season, Barkley led the league in rebounding average and earned his first rebounding title. He was named the All-Star Game MVP in 1991, and in 1993 with the Phoenix Suns, he was voted the league's MVP while leading the team to the NBA Finals. He also competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, winning two gold medals as a member of the U.S. national team. In 2000, Barkley retired as the fourth player in NBA history to achieve 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists.[3][a] Barkley is a two-time inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2006 for his individual career, and in 2010 as a member of the 1992 Olympic "dream team."[5][6]

Barkley was popular with the fans and media and made the NBA's All-Interview Team for his last 13 seasons in the league.[7] He was frequently involved in on- and off-court fights and sometimes stirred national controversy, such as in March 1991 when he spat on a young girl while attempting to spit at a heckler,[8] and 1993 when he declared that sports figures should not be considered role models.[9] Since retiring as a player, Barkley has had a successful career as an NBA analyst. He works for TNT on Inside the NBA alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson as a studio pundit for its coverage of NBA games (for which he has won five Sports Emmy Awards).[10] In addition, Barkley has written several books and has shown an interest in politics.[11][12]

  1. ^ Lieberman, Noah (June 22, 2008). "When Height Becomes a Tall Tale". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. They lie," said Charles Barkley, a basketball commentator for TNT. "I've been measured at 6-5, 6-4 ¾. But I started in college at 6-6.
  2. ^ "Phoenix Suns to Unveil Permanent Banners and Murals as Part of Reimagined Ring of Honor During Home Opener on October 28". NBA.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "Charles Barkley Career Statistics". nba.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  4. ^ "Players Who Had 20000 Points 10000 Rebounds And 4000 Assists". StatMuse. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "Charles Barkley". The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
  6. ^ "1992 United States Olympic Team". The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  7. ^ "Charles Barkley: Career Highlights". nba.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
  8. ^ "Barkley Allegedly Spit at Fan and May Have Hit Little Girl". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. March 27, 1991. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  9. ^ Norris, Luke (April 13, 2020). "How Charles Barkley's Controversial 'I Am Not a Role Model' Nike Spot Came to Be". Sportscasting. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference nbabio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Transcript: Charles Barkley tells Brown racism is a cancer". CNN. 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
  12. ^ "Twitter Users Are 'Idiots'". CNBC. Retrieved July 21, 2010.[dead link‍]


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