Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Charles Barkley

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Charles Barkley made an impact.

Charles Barkley is a retired American professional basketball player and current television analyst. Known for his rebounding prowess and scoring ability despite being undersized for his position, he played 16 seasons in the NBA. Barkley's accolades include 11-time NBA All-Star, 11-time All-NBA Team selection, and the 1993 NBA MVP award. He was also named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams, solidifying his legacy as one of basketball's greats.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

1974: 76ers Missed Playoffs

In the 1974-75 season the 76ers failed to make the playoffs, this also occurred in the season that Barkley played in 1988-89

1983: 76ers Previous NBA Championship

In 1983, The Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA Championship, creating a veteran team that Barkley would later join.

1984: Led Tigers to NCAA tournament

In 1984, Charles Barkley led the Auburn Tigers to their first NCAA tournament in school history.

1984: Drafted by Philadelphia 76ers

In 1984, Charles Barkley was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers as a junior out of Auburn University, selected with the fifth pick in the NBA draft.

1984: U.S. Olympic Team Tryouts

In 1984, Charles Barkley was invited to the spring tryouts for the U.S. Olympic team but was later cut from the team.

1985: Named to All-Rookie First Team

In 1985, during his rookie season, Charles Barkley was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

November 4, 1986: Career-High Assists

On November 4, 1986, Charles Barkley recorded 34 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 14 assists in a loss to the Indiana Pacers.

1986: Leads league in Rebounding Average

In 1986, Charles Barkley led the league in rebounding average and earned his first rebounding title.

March 20, 1987: High Rebound Game

On March 20, 1987, Charles Barkley recorded 26 points and 25 rebounds (including a career-high-tying 16 offensive rebounds) in a win over the Denver Nuggets.

November 30, 1988: Productive Game Against Blazers

On November 30, 1988, Charles Barkley recorded 41 points, 22 rebounds, five assists, and six steals in a win over the Blazers.

1989: Finished second in MVP voting

During the 1989–90 season, Charles Barkley finished second in MVP voting behind Magic Johnson, despite receiving more first-place votes.

1991: Collaboration on Outrageous

In 1991, Charles Barkley collaborated with sportswriter Roy S. Johnson on the autobiographical work, "Outrageous", which led to Barkley quipping that he had been misquoted in his own autobiography.

Outrageous!: The Fine Life and Flagrant Good Times of Basketball's Irresistible Force

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1991: Named All-Star Game MVP

In 1991, Charles Barkley was named the All-Star Game MVP.

July 17, 1992: Traded to Phoenix Suns

On July 17, 1992, Charles Barkley was officially traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry, and Andrew Lang.

1992: Competed in the 1992 Olympic Games

In 1992, Charles Barkley competed in the Olympic Games, winning a gold medal as a member of the U.S. national team.

1992: Trade to Phoenix Suns

In 1992, Charles Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns. Due to another player already wearing No. 32, Barkley switched back to No. 34.

1993: First time hosting Saturday Night Live

In 1993, Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time.

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1993: Named NBA Most Valuable Player

In 1993, Charles Barkley was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).

1995: Considered running for Alabama's governorship

In 1995, Charles Barkley considered running as a Republican candidate for Alabama's governorship in the 1998 election.

1995: Last Season with Phoenix Suns

In the 1995-96 season, Barkley played his last season with the Phoenix Suns. He led the team in scoring, rebounds, and steals, averaging 23.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and a career high .777 free throw shooting. He also earned his tenth appearance in an All-Star Game and posted his 18th career triple-double on November 22. Additionally, in 1995, he became just the tenth player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds in their career.

1996: Wins Second Gold Medal

In 1996, Charles Barkley competed in the Olympic Games and won his second gold medal as a member of the U.S. national team.

1996: Appearance in Space Jam

In 1996, Charles Barkley played himself in the film "Space Jam".

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1998: Considered running for Alabama's governorship

In 1995, Charles Barkley considered running as a Republican candidate for Alabama's governorship in the 1998 election.

April 19, 2000: Final NBA Game and Retirement

On April 19, 2000, in a home game against the Vancouver Grizzlies, Charles Barkley returned after four months from a quadriceps tendon rupture for one final game, scoring a memorable basket on an offensive rebound and putback before retiring to a standing ovation, ending his sixteen-year Hall of Fame career.

2000: Reaches Milestone and Retires

In 2000, Charles Barkley retired as the fourth player in NBA history to achieve 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists.

2000: Foreword for The Life of Reilly

In 2000, Charles Barkley wrote the foreword for Rick Reilly's book, "The Life of Reilly", where he made a humorous comment about sports figures he'd like to throw through a plate glass window.

Life of Reilly

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2000: Studio Analyst for TNT

Since 2000, Charles Barkley has worked as a studio analyst for TNT, appearing on NBA coverage during pre-game and halftime shows, as well as special events. He is part of the Inside the NBA crew.

2002: Hosted Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson

From 2002 to 2003, Charles Barkley co-hosted a sports and general topics talk show with guests on TNT called Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson.

2002: Release of I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It

In 2002, Charles Barkley released the book "I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It", which included editing and commentary by Michael Wilbon.

2003: Hosted Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson

From 2002 to 2003, Charles Barkley co-hosted a sports and general topics talk show with guests on TNT called Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson.

2004: Celebrity Guest Picker for College GameDay

In 2004, Charles Barkley became the first-ever celebrity guest picker for College GameDay.

July 2006: Interest in Running for Governor of Alabama

At a July 2006 meeting of the Southern Regional Conference of the National School Boards Association in Destin, Florida, Charles Barkley lent credence to the idea of running for Governor of Alabama.

September 2006: Reiterated Desire to Run for Governor

In September 2006, Charles Barkley reiterated his desire to run for governor of Alabama, noting that he would need to live there for seven years before being eligible.

September 2007: Bought house in Alabama for Residency

In September 2007, Charles Barkley announced during a broadcast on Monday Night Football that he had bought a house in Alabama to satisfy residency requirements for a 2014 campaign for governor and declared himself an Independent.

February 2008: Announced Run for Governor of Alabama

In February 2008, Charles Barkley announced that he would be running for Governor of Alabama in 2014 as an Independent.

October 27, 2008: Officially Announced Candidacy for Governor

On October 27, 2008, Charles Barkley officially announced his candidacy for Governor of Alabama in an interview with CNN, planning to run in the 2014 election cycle.

February 19, 2009: Return to TNT After DUI Hiatus

On February 19, 2009, Charles Barkley returned to TNT after a two-month hiatus following his DUI arrest and discussed the incident. T-Mobile resumed airing ads featuring Barkley after his return.

November 24, 2009: Began to Back Off Gubernatorial Run

On November 24, 2009, Charles Barkley began to back off the idea of running for Governor of Alabama in an interview on The Jay Leno Show.

2010: Confirmed Not Running in 2014

In 2010, Charles Barkley confirmed that he was not running for Governor of Alabama in 2014.

2011: Spokesman for WeightWatchers

In 2011, Charles Barkley became a spokesman for WeightWatchers, promoting their "Lose Like a Man" program in television and online ads.

2011: Studio Analyst for NCAA Tournament Coverage

Since 2011, Charles Barkley has served as a studio analyst for the joint coverage of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament between Turner Sports and CBS, broadcasting every Final Four since then.

January 7, 2012: Guest Commentator for NFL Playoffs, Host of SNL

On January 7, 2012, Charles Barkley served as a guest commentator for NBC's coverage of the NFL Wild Card playoffs and hosted Saturday Night Live.

November 2012: Contemplating Retirement from Broadcasting

In November 2012, Charles Barkley announced that he was contemplating retirement from broadcasting after 13 years with TNT, expressing a desire for a new challenge.

2014: Considered running for governor

2014: Planned gubernatorial campaign

On October 27, 2008, Charles Barkley officially announced his candidacy for Governor of Alabama in an interview with CNN, planning to run in the 2014 election cycle.

July 2016: Announcement of The Race Card

In July 2016, it was announced that Charles Barkley would host a six-episode unscripted show called The Race Card.

2016: Planned retirement from broadcasting

In 2016, Charles Barkley had initially planned to retire from broadcasting but signed another contract with Turner Sports instead.

May 11, 2017: Premiere of American Race

On May 11, 2017, American Race, a six-episode unscripted show hosted by Charles Barkley, premiered on TNT.

2018: Saturday Night Live Hosting

In 2018, Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live on four separate occasions between 1993 and 2018.

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2019: Appearance on The Goldbergs

In 2019, Charles Barkley appeared in "The Piña Colada Song" episode of "The Goldbergs" as a gym teacher and alien conspiracy theorist.

2019: Confirmed Not Running for Office

On Lance Armstrong's podcast in 2019, Charles Barkley confirmed that he would not be running for office.

October 2022: Signed contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports

In October 2022, Charles Barkley signed a 10-year contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports to remain as an analyst on Inside the NBA.

2023: Planned retirement at 60

Charles Barkley had stated he wanted to retire in 2023 when he turned 60 years old.

2023: Co-hosting King Charles on CNN

In the fall of 2023, Charles Barkley began co-hosting a news discussion program called King Charles alongside Gayle King on CNN, airing on Wednesdays at 10pm. The series ended in April of the following year.

June 2024: Intention to retire from television

In June 2024, Charles Barkley initially announced his intention to retire from television following the conclusion of the 2024–25 NBA season, but later reversed this decision in August.