Charles Barkley Biography

1963-

American basketball player

During a sixteen-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA), forward Charles Barkley proved himself to be one of best basketball players of all

Charles Barkley

time, as well as one of the more controversial. An excellent rebounder despite his generous girth and unexceptional height, he was dubbed "The Round Mound of Rebound" while a player at Auburn University. As a pro, he became "Sir Charles" and was named league MVP for the 1992-1993 season, became a perennial member of the All-Star Team, and was rated as one of the top fifty players of all time by the NBA. None of these rewards, however, lessened his desire to play for a championship team, a goal that sent him from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. Off the court, Barkley often made news with his verbal and physical sparring. After retiring in 2000, he became an analyst for TNT's Inside the NBA, where his wit and willingness to criticize make for lively viewing.