Charles Barkley is a prominent name in the NBA world. He was once a professional American basketball player and is now a TV analyst on CBS Sports and TNT. Barkley is the most prominent NBA TV broadcasting star. His exuberant demeanor and rapport with presenter Ernie Johnson Jr. and former players Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith combine to create a highly successful “Inside the NBA” studio program.
Who is Charles Barkley?
American basketball player Charles Barkley, whose birth name is Charles Wade Barkley, was a former professional player. He was born on 20th Feb 1963 and is nicknamed Sir Charles, the Round Mound of Rebound, and the Bread Tucker. He has played 16 NBA seasons in his career as a basketball player.
Despite being smaller than the average power forward, he became one of the NBA’s top scorers and rebounders using his muscle and tenacity. One of the best power forwards in NBA history, Barkley was named to the All-NBA Team eleven times, an eleventh time as an NBA All-Star, and the MVP of the 1993 NBA Finals. He was chosen for the NBA’s 50th and 75th-anniversary teams.
His net worth is almost $60 million, primarily because of his 10-year contract with TNT that pays him $10 million+ per year.
Barkley’s Early Life
Charles was born to Charcey Glenn and Frank Barkley and had a sibling, Darryl Barkley. Charles’s father abandoned him and his family when he was pretty young, eventually leading to his parents getting a divorce. He was born in Leeds and was in a life-threatening situation when born, as he was only over six pounds.
He had severe anemia that worsened when he was just six weeks old. His mother had always been surprised at how her son became a great athlete despite being underweight.
Sir Charles and His Basketball Career
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Barkley with the fifth choice in the 1984 NBA draft as a junior at Auburn University. Barkley was assigned to the 1985 All-first First Team during his first campaign. Barkley won his first rebounding title and led the league in average rebounds during the 1986–1987 campaign.
In addition to being selected as the MVP of the league in 1993 while playing for the Phoenix Suns and guiding them to the NBA Finals, he was also awarded the MVP of the 1991 All-Star Game. He also participated in the Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996, representing the United States national team and taking home two gold medals.
As the fourth player in NBA history to reach 10,000 rebounds, 20,000 points, and 4,000 assists, Barkley announced his retirement in 2000. Barkley received two inductions into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: one in 2006 for his achievements and another in 2010 for his part in the 1992 Olympic “dream team.”
How Did Barkley’s Career End?
One of the most painful moments for any professional is the day when their career comes to an end. In late December 1999, Charles announced his retirement from the professional basketball forum. He had a knee injury that was severe enough to make him leave his career.
Undoubtedly, injuries are painful, and for players, it could mean not doing the one thing they like the most. The same happened with Charles when his 16-year-long career came to a standstill after a knee injury. Sixteen years may sound long, but it is definitely short for Charles.
Charles and Other Careers
Basketball and Charles are two names that go hand in hand. Two years back, Barkley signed a 10-year deal with TNT for his association with Inside the NBA program, but with a clause. He also ensured there was an opt-out option for him, just in case TNT lost its rights to NBA broadcasting.
The news is that TNT’s contract with the NBA is set to expire by the end of the 2024/25 session, and there is a new player in the market trying to snatch those, right? Amazon Prime has struck a deal for a new partner for the 2025/26 season. So, what will happen to Sir Charles? He will become a free agent.
As per Charles, he is in a perfect position. Even though he has always enjoyed his partnership with TNT, he will be happy to be a free agent. Charles has won four Sports Emmy awards for his role as a TV Analyst. He is also the author of several books and has a strong interest in politics.
Barkley and Controversies
Sir Charles is a popular name in the media and among fans alike. Not only is he popular for his basketball career, but he has been in the news for his various controversies. He was known for getting into confrontations both on and off the court. He was also famous for igniting national controversy when he tried to spit at a heckler in March 1991 and said in 1993 that athletes shouldn’t be viewed as role models.
Charles and His Love for Gambling
Barkley has always been vocal about his gambling habits. He once confessed how he lost millions while trying to control his gambling habits to Shannon Sharpe. He even admitted to being in depression because of his addiction to winning every game. During the Club Shay Shay podcast, he shocked everyone by saying he has lost $25 million in gambling over these years.
He admits that his gambling habits are problematic. He goes to LA and never plays anything less than $25,000 a hand. He even said he had won over one million at least seven times. However, there are almost 25 times when he has lost millions in gambling.
He continued by saying that he had not played a single game in the casino for two years as it was getting out of hand. He confessed to being obsessed with leaving a casino with a million his winning amount, even if he had won $600,000 or $700,000 daily. Even when his friends used to call it a night, Barkley used to continue playing.