Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley was a member of the 1992 Dream Team and is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all-time. Barkley played in college at Auburn University and was chosen in the 1st round of the 1984 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, with the fifth overall pick. He was a power forward, but was undersized, listed at a generous 6-6 (198 cm), and was often somewhat overweight, giving rise to his oft-used nickname “The Round Mound of Rebound.”

Barkley played in the NBA from 1984-92 with the 76ers, and then played for the Phoenix Suns from 1992-96, before finishing his career with the Houston Rockets from 1996-2000. He was NBA MVP in 1993, was an 11-time NBA All-Star, consecutively from 1987-97, was chosen NBA First-Team five times (1988-91, 1993), and Second-Team five times (1986-87, 1992, 1994-95). Barkley was named to the NBA’s 50th anniversary all-time team. His #34 was retired by the 76ers and the Suns, and he finished his career with an average of 22.1 points/game and 11.7 rebounds/game.

After his playing career ended, Barkley moved to television where he has been a popular color analyst for NBA Games, mostly on the TNT Network. Outspoken, and hardly afraid to voice his opinion, many of which have been remarkably prescient, he became a popular voice on talk shows and as a commercial spokesman. Barkley has also considered running for public office in his home state of Alabama.