Charley Barkley, known for his outspoken nature and dominant presence on the basketball court, is one of the most memorable figures in NBA history. Over his 16-year career, he played primarily as a power forward, though he occasionally covered the small forward and center positions. Barkley is now retired and works as an analyst on TNT’s NBA coverage.
Charles Barkley was born on February 20, 1963, in Leeds, Alabama. He attended Leeds High School, where he played basketball despite initially being overlooked due to his height—he was only 5 feet 10 inches as a junior and failed to make the varsity team. However, during the summer before his senior year, he experienced a growth spurt, reaching 6 feet 4 inches, which helped him earn a place on the varsity roster.
After high school, Barkley attended Auburn University, where he played three seasons of collegiate basketball. Known for his unusual build and quickness, his coach famously called him "a fat boy who played like the wind." Barkley quickly gained recognition at the college level and entered the national spotlight as a promising basketball talent.
Barkley declared for the NBA draft in 1984 and was selected fifth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. Though he played power forward despite being considered undersized for the position, his strength, agility, and basketball IQ made him a dominant force. He played with the 76ers until the end of the 1991–92 season.
In the 1992–93 season, Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns. That season, he had a standout year, leading the Suns to the NBA Finals and earning the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1993. He continued to play for Phoenix until 1996, despite back issues that sidelined him during some key moments, including the All-Star Game selections.
In 1996, Barkley was traded to the Houston Rockets, joining a veteran roster that included Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. He played with the Rockets until retiring after the 1999–2000 season. Barkley concluded his career with averages of 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, earning him recognition as one of the NBA’s all-time greats.
| Birth Date: | 20 Feb, 1963 |
| Age: | 57 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Leeds |
| residence: | United States of America |
| Education: | Auburn University |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American basketball player |
| Net Worth 2021: | 50 million |
