Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Charles Barkley
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Charles Barkley made an impact.
Charles Barkley, nicknamed "Sir Charles" among other monikers, is a retired American professional basketball player and current television analyst. Playing for 16 seasons in the NBA, he was known for his exceptional rebounding and scoring abilities despite being shorter than most power forwards. Barkley's career highlights include being an 11-time NBA All-Star, 11-time All-NBA Team member, and the 1993 NBA Most Valuable Player. His achievements led to his inclusion in the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams, solidifying his legacy as one of basketball's greats.
1974: Sixers Fail to Make Playoffs
For the first time since the 1974-75 season, the 76ers failed to make the playoffs in 1988.
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 the fifth pick in the first round of the NBA draft. He joined a team with Julius Erving and Moses Malone.
1984: Olympic Team Tryout
In 1984, Charles Barkley was invited by Bob Knight to try out for the United States men's basketball team for the Summer Olympics, but was not selected due to poor defense.
1985: Named to the All-Rookie First Team
In 1985, during his rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Charles Barkley was named to the 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 game against the Indiana Pacers.
1986: Rebounding Leader
Charles Barkley is the shortest player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding in 1986, averaging 14.6 rebounds per game.
1986: Led the League in Rebounding Average
During the 1986 NBA season, Charles Barkley led the league in rebounding average and earned his first rebounding title.
1986: Leading NBA in 2-Point Field Goal Percentage
In 1986, Charles Barkley began a streak of leading the NBA in 2-point field goal percentage, showcasing his efficiency and scoring ability.
March 20, 1987: 25 Rebounds Against Denver Nuggets
On March 20, 1987, Charles Barkley recorded 26 points and 25 rebounds, including a career-high-tying 16 offensive rebounds, in a game against the Denver Nuggets.
1987: Leading NBA in Multiple Percentages
In 1987, Charles Barkley was leading NBA in both 2-point field goal and effective field goal percentage, showcasing his efficient offense.
November 30, 1988: 41 Points and 22 Rebounds
On November 30, 1988, Charles Barkley recorded 41 points, 22 rebounds, five assists, and six steals in a win over the Blazers.
1988: Continues to Lead in Offensive Percentage
In 1988, Charles Barkley continued to lead the league in effective field goal percentage, reinforcing his status as a dominant offensive player.
1989: Leading League in Offensive Rating
In 1989, Charles Barkley's performance led the league in offensive rating, showing his skill as a scorer.
1990: Consistent Offensive Dominance
By 1990, Charles Barkley continued to demonstrate consistent offensive dominance, leading the league in offensive rating, adding to his reputation as a versatile and accurate scorer.
1991: Collaboration on the autobiographical work Outrageous
In 1991, Charles Barkley collaborated with sportswriter Roy S. Johnson on his autobiographical book, Outrageous. Barkley later quipped about being misquoted in it.
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: Olympics Gold Medal
Charles Barkley won a gold medal as a member of the United States Olympic Basketball team in 1992.
1992: Competed in the Olympics
In 1992, Charles Barkley competed in the Olympic Games and won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. national team.
1992: First Olympics with Dream Team
In 1992, Charles Barkley competed in the Olympic Games for the first time as part of the "Dream Team," winning a gold medal and setting an Olympic single-game scoring record.
1992: Trade to Phoenix
In 1992, Charles Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns, marking a significant change in his career.
1993: League MVP
Charles Barkley earned league MVP honors in 1993, solidifying his status as a top player in the NBA.
1993: First time hosting Saturday Night Live
Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time in 1993.
1993: Speculation about Leaving Phoenix
Due to severe back pains in 1993, Charles Barkley began to speculate that the 1993-94 season would be his last in Phoenix.
1995: Consideration of Running for Alabama Governor
In 1995, Charles Barkley considered running as a Republican candidate for Alabama's governorship in the 1998 election.
1995: Last Season with Phoenix Suns
The 1995-96 season was Charles Barkley's last with the Phoenix Suns. In 1995, he led the team in scoring, rebounds, and steals. He also earned his tenth All-Star Game appearance.
1996: Led Team in Scoring and Rebounds at Olympics
At the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, Charles Barkley led the team in scoring, rebounds, and field goal percentage, contributing to another gold medal victory.
1996: Earned Another Olympic Gold Medal
Charles Barkley earned a second gold medal as a member of the United States Olympic Basketball team in 1996.
1996: Appearance in the film Space Jam
In 1996, Charles Barkley played himself in the film Space Jam.
1996: NBA's 50th Anniversary Team selection
In 1996, as part of the NBA's 50th Anniversary, Charles Barkley was honored as one of the 50 greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary Team, recognizing his significant contributions to the sport.
1998: Potential Run for Alabama Governor
In 1998, Charles Barkley considered running for Alabama governor. However, the run never materialized.
April 19, 2000: Final Game and Retirement
On April 19, 2000, Charles Barkley returned for one final game against the Vancouver Grizzlies, scored a memorable basket, and retired from the NBA.
2000: Retired from the NBA
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: Writing the foreword for The Life of Reilly
In 2000, Charles Barkley wrote the foreword for Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly's book, The Life of Reilly, where he humorously commented on Reilly.
2000: Studio Analyst for TNT
Since 2000, Charles Barkley has worked as a studio analyst for Turner Network Television (TNT), providing commentary on NBA games during pre-game, halftime shows, and special events.
2002: Hosted 'Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson' on TNT
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 the book I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It
In 2002, Charles Barkley released his book, I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It, with editing and commentary by Michael Wilbon.
2003: Hosted 'Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson' on TNT
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.
March 20, 2004: Induction into Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor
On March 20, 2004, Charles Barkley was honored by the Phoenix Suns with induction into the "Suns Ring of Honor", recognizing his contributions to the team and his basketball career.
2004: First Celebrity Guest Picker for College GameDay
In 2004, Charles Barkley was the first-ever celebrity guest picker for College GameDay, marking his foray into sports analysis beyond basketball.
July 2006: Altered political stance and Governor Run Credence
At a July 2006 meeting of the Southern Regional Conference of the National School Boards Association in Destin, Florida, Charles Barkley altered his political stance, and lent credence to the idea of running for Governor of Alabama.
September 2006: Reiterated Desire to Run for Governor in 2014
In September 2006, Charles Barkley reiterated his desire to run for governor, noting that he couldn't run until 2014 due to residency requirements.
2006: Support for Gay Marriage
In 2006, Charles Barkley expressed support for gay marriage, stating, "I'm a big advocate of gay marriage. If they want to get married, God bless them."
September 2007: Purchased House in Alabama for 2014 Gubernatorial Campaign
In September 2007, during a broadcast on Monday Night Football, Charles Barkley announced that he bought a house in Alabama to satisfy residency requirements for a 2014 campaign for governor and declared himself an Independent.
February 2008: Announced Candidacy for Alabama Governor in 2014
In February 2008, Charles Barkley announced that he would be running for Governor of Alabama in 2014 as an Independent.
February 19, 2009: Return to TNT after DUI arrest
On February 19, 2009, Charles Barkley returned to TNT after a two-month hiatus following his DUI arrest, discussing the incident on the NBA pregame show.
November 24, 2009: Began Backing Off Governor Run Idea
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 for Governor in 2014
In 2010, Charles Barkley confirmed that he was not running for Governor of Alabama in 2014.
2011: Advocacy for Homosexuality
During a 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Day broadcast on TNT, Charles Barkley responded to a statement made by Dr. King's daughter Bernice, by saying, "People try to make it about black and white. He talked about equality for every man, every woman. We have a thing going on now, people discriminating against homosexuality in this country. I love the homosexuality people. God bless the gay people. They are great people."
2011: Spokesman for WeightWatchers
In 2011, Charles Barkley became a spokesman for WeightWatchers, promoting their "Lose Like a Man" program in TV 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, covering every Final Four since then.
January 7, 2012: Guest Commentator for NFL Wild Card Playoffs and Host of Saturday Night Live
On January 7, 2012, Charles Barkley served as a guest commentator for NBC's coverage of the NFL Wild Card playoffs, and on the same night, he hosted Saturday Night Live.
November 2012: Contemplation of Broadcasting Retirement
In November 2012, Charles Barkley announced that he was contemplating retirement from broadcasting, citing a desire for a new challenge after 13 years with Turner Sports.
2013: Stated 'anybody who thinks they never played with a gay player is an idiot.'
In 2013, in response to Celtics player Jason Collins coming out, Charles Barkley stated, “I think anybody who thinks they never played with a gay player is an idiot."
2014: Governor Election
Charles Barkley had previously planned to run for governor in 2014, but ended up not running
2014: Potential Run for Governor
In 2014, Charles Barkley was eligible to run for governor, but did not end up running.
July 2016: Announcement of Unscripted Show 'The Race Card'
In July 2016, it was announced that Charles Barkley would host a six-episode unscripted show called The Race Card on TNT, focusing on discussions about race.
2016: Planned Retirement (Initial)
In 2016, Charles Barkley initially planned to retire from broadcasting, as he had stated earlier. However, he later signed another contract with Turner Sports, reversing his decision.
May 11, 2017: Premiere of 'American Race' on TNT
On May 11, 2017, The Race Card show, renamed American Race, premiered on TNT, featuring Charles Barkley discussing various issues related to race in America.
2018: Fourth time hosting Saturday Night Live
Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live on four separate occasions between 1993 and 2018. 2018 was the fourth time he hosted the TV show.
2019: Appearance in 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
In 2019, Charles Barkley confirmed on Lance Armstrong's podcast that he would not be running for office.
October 2021: Named to NBA's 75th Anniversary Team
In October 2021, as part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary, Charles Barkley was honored as one of the 75 greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.
October 2022: Signed 10-year contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports
In October 2022, Charles Barkley signed a 10-year contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, the owner of TNT, to continue as an analyst on Inside the NBA.
2022: Vehement Support for LGBT Community
In 2022, a video surfaced of Charles Barkley speaking at an event where he made comments vehemently in favor of the LGBT community, expressing his love and support for gay and transgender individuals.
2023: Planned Retirement (Second)
In 2023, Charles Barkley planned to retire when he turned 60 but signed another contract with Turner Sports.
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, a limited-run series that aired on Wednesdays at 10pm.
June 2024: Announced 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.
June 2024: Guest Studio Analyst for 2024 Stanley Cup Finals Game 2
In June 2024, Charles Barkley served as a guest studio analyst for Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, broadcast by ABC and produced by ESPN.
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