Charles Barkley, provocateur with a big heart
There are few athletes who mark the history of their discipline without winning even the smallest title with their team. Charles Barkleywhose 62nd birthday we are celebrating today, is still part of this club.
His flashy actions and his loud statements contributed to the extreme popularity of American basketball in the 1990s. He later became a TV consultant, a man who earned a nickname “Sir Charles” it is still being talked about. His provocations, apparently…
In the early 1990s, this guy who confuses the names of players and their teams was certainly the best professional basketball player in the world. Sure, Michael Jordan soars from three skyscrapers above, but Charles Barkley is the most complete. Say American specialists who were born with a basketball eye and statistical tables instead of a heart…
“Chuck” is the slum gentry of Leeds, Alabama. In the deep south. There, when you’re black, you’ve got it all wrong from the start… The guy is lucky he had the muscles and gray matter to cross.
« This guy is one of a kind. His exceptional musculature, his dizzying ease and his steely mind make him an outstanding player “Pat Riley, the Knicks coach at the time, didn’t have enough strong superlatives to describe the phenomenon.
Julius Erving, American basketball legend and Michael Jordan’s spiritual father, added another layer: ” If I had to build a team, I would definitely build it around Charles. »
Desperate pursuit of the title
In the early 1990s, Phoenix rubs his hands. On the field, Charles Barkley intimidates his opponents, starves them by catching the ball, delights the public with his risk-taking.
Another remarkable quality: in the heat of the moment, “Sir Charles” is the complete opposite of a coward who tries to hide, because he is rather one of those who can be counted on. ” All I want is to win. I dream of an NBA title. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about it. I will conquer it or die trying to conquer it. My strength is that I can do things that are impossible for others. »
At that time, he began to tire of chasing this famous title. When leaving Philadelphia 1992 to join SunsCharles Barkley thinks he’s putting the odds on his side. After eight years spent with Sixershe made up his mind: the early eliminations were over, as were the fights with owners and trainers.
His main priority was to join the great team to meet his friend Michael Jordan in the final stadium. With that, the strong wing completely changed the mentality of a team that was too often prone to breakdowns in decisive matches. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do anything against “His Airiness” during the 1993 finals.
« With its overtime, Game 3 was the greatest game in basketball history. I don’t care who won or lost. We gave everything. That’s what people expect, right? »
Charles Barkley couldn’t take it anymore, but he still grabbed 19 rebounds that night. Despite two wins at Chicago Stadium, Phoenix had to lose. A major disappointment that prompted Charles to announce his retirement. But when he recovers from his emotions, he returns to the US courts.
An unforgettable big mouth
A favorite interlocutor of journalists, “Chak” always finds a shocking phrase that will make the entire audience howl with laughter or sometimes with rage. He is a star and talks like a star, but above all he has a reputation for being a big mouth.
During press conferences for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, everyone enjoyed his little catchphrases like, “ The only team that can beat us is the United States women’s team ».
Before the All-Star Game, he said, “ I never knew you could have so many ugly guys in one place… »
Another gem: “ I didn’t steal my money from Seekers. I played with guys who had to wear a mask to pick up their check. »
Rick Mahorn, his former teammate in Philly, however, dispelled preconceived notions: “ Charles pretends to be a jerk, but he’s the exact opposite “. Then the person concerned assures: ” People think I’m not interested in anything, but I’m not a clown. I’m often against the system and that bothers people. The truth, it seems, is not always good to tell. »
Michael Jordan kind of appreciated his honesty: ” Charles never keeps his mouth shut. He says what others dare not say. » And his friend continued: » I am even an example to children, because I only know how to work to succeed. »
As talented as he is turbulent
Provocative on the field, Charles Barkley is even more so in the interview room. His arrogance did not always serve him well as, after a memorable altercation, Bobby Knight did not select him for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, even though he objectively deserved a place on the team.
In the past, “Sir Charles” has been involved in several fights and has been arrested for speeding while in possession of a weapon. Whenever something stupid is brewing, you can be sure it’s not far off. He is also a champion of fines and fights with referees, but that is part of his character, cheeky but also very intelligent.
« All these years I’ve been insulting my teammates and Philadelphia management. I fought with other players. I insulted white people, black people, feminists. If I forgot someone, raise your hand! »
Excerpt from ” Unheard of », his biography: Charles? He’s like your little brother. He does stupid things all the time. You want to slap him, but you still like him “, said Michael Jordan.
David Robinson explains that he is completely bent in two as soon as Charles Barkley starts to open him up… But beyond his antics, he is above all a man with a big heart. Anecdote: friend Charles hears about one of his fans in Florida who is fed up with his studies and wants to drop out. No doubt they’ll let him do this stupid thing: “Chuck” takes his phone and talks to him for over 30 minutes to convince him to continue taking college classes.
« Helping children must be our main driving force in life “, he explained. « Their happiness is worth all the gold in the world. He is irreplaceable. »
Especially that of his paralyzed younger brother. ” I do everything to help him, but sometimes it is very difficult. Sometimes it confuses me. It doesn’t really take long. Nothing can succeed in destroying me. »
Fear of no one
He breathes like an ox on the floor, sweats everywhere, pushes like a buffalo with his elbows, screams, screams, moans… But in the end he always comes out with the ball.
Remember: The Orlando All-Star Game in February 1992 Dikembe Mutombo, a rookie from Denver, had just made his All-Star debut. “Sir Charles” goes up for a dunk, Mutombo watches. But nothing can be done, his opponent lands a terrible dunk on his head! “Deke” even finds himself with his ass on the ground…
Charles Barkley experiences this kind of duel every night. Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t scare him and even tends to over-motivate him, although we all remember his early fight with “Shaq”…
Because of this, he found himself among the elite of world basketball and continues to test the strength of the circles by dunking on everything that moves. Although handicapped by nagging back pain, he managed to lead the Suns as far as possible on the final table in 1994, but Hakeem Olajuwon and Rockets blocked his path to heaven in the conference semifinals.
“Chuck” tells himself that it will be soon and he will even join Olajwon Houstonaccompanied by Scottie Pippen. If he never won the title, it would be a great injustice. He would take it extremely hard. But he will have to live with it for the rest of his days…
Career
— 16 seasons, 1,073 regular season games and 123 playoff games
— Three teams (Philadelphia, Phoenix, Houston)
— Regular season : 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks
— Playoffs : 23.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.9 blocks
Award list
— Olympic champion : 1992, 1996
— MVP : 1993
— The MVP of your All-Star Game : 1991
— All-Star : 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
— All-NBA first team : 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
— All-NBA Second Team : 1986, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995
— All-NBA third team : 1996
— Beginner team : 1985
https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=jJJDKe7jD3E
| Charles Barkley | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 1984-85 | PHL | 82 | 29 | 54.5 | 16.7 | 73.3 | 3.2 | 5.3 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 1985-86 | PHL | 80 | 37 | 57.2 | 23.0 | 68.5 | 4.4 | 8.4 | 12.8 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 20.0 |
| 1986-87 | PHL | 68 | 40 | 59.4 | 20.2 | 76.1 | 5.7 | 8.9 | 14.6 | 4.9 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 4.7 | 1.5 | 23.0 |
| 1987-88 | PHL | 80 | 40 | 58.7 | 28.0 | 75.1 | 4.8 | 7.1 | 11.9 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 28.3 |
| 1988-89 | PHL | 79 | 39 | 57.9 | 21.6 | 75.3 | 5.1 | 7.4 | 12.5 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 25.8 |
| 1989-90 | PHL | 79 | 39 | 60.0 | 21.7 | 74.9 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 11.5 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 25.2 |
| 1990-91 | PHL | 67 | 37 | 57.0 | 28.4 | 72.2 | 3.9 | 6.3 | 10.2 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 27.6 |
| 1991-92 | PHL | 75 | 38 | 55.2 | 23.4 | 69.5 | 3.6 | 7.5 | 11.1 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 23.1 |
| 1992-93 ★ | PHKS | 76 | 38 | 52.0 | 30.5 | 76.5 | 3.1 | 9.1 | 12.2 | 5.1 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 25.6 |
| 1993-94 | PHKS | 65 | 35 | 49.5 | 27.0 | 70.4 | 3.1 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 4.6 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 21.6 |
| 1994-95 | PHKS | 68 | 35 | 48.6 | 33.8 | 74.8 | 3.0 | 8.1 | 11.1 | 4.1 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 23.0 |
| 1995-96 | PHKS | 71 | 37 | 50.0 | 28.0 | 77.7 | 3.4 | 8.1 | 11.6 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 23.2 |
| 1996-97 | NEW | 53 | 38 | 48.4 | 28.3 | 69.4 | 4.0 | 9.5 | 13.5 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 19.2 |
| 1997-98 | NEW | 68 | 33 | 48.5 | 21.4 | 74.6 | 3.5 | 8.1 | 11.7 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 15.2 |
| 1998-99 | NEW | 42 | 36 | 47.8 | 16.0 | 71.9 | 4.0 | 8.3 | 12.3 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 16.1 |
| 1999-00 | NEW | 20 | 31 | 47.7 | 23.1 | 64.5 | 3.6 | 6.9 | 10.5 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 14.5 |
| In total | 1073 | 37 | 54.1 | 26.6 | 73.5 | 4.0 | 7.7 | 11.7 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 22.1 | |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-02-20 17:59:00
