Childhood and Education Journey of Charles Barkley in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Charles Barkley. A timeline of key moments.

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

Sections (5)

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

February 20, 1963: Charles Barkley's Birth

On February 20, 1963, Charles Wade Barkley was born. He would become a professional basketball player and a television analyst.

Others born on this day/year

1984: Led Tigers to NCAA Tournament

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

1984: Named SEC Player of the Year

In 1984, Charles Barkley was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year.

1989: Married Maureen Blumhardt

Charles Barkley and Maureen Blumhardt got married in 1989 after reportedly meeting in the mid to late 1980s.

1989: Birth of daughter Christiana

In 1989, Charles Barkley's daughter, Christiana, was born. He named her after a mall called Christiana Mall in Delaware.

Others born on this day/year

1991: Wore number 32

During the 1991-92 season, Charles Barkley wore number 32 instead of his usual number 34 to honor Magic Johnson, who had announced he was HIV-positive. He also apologized for making light of Johnson's condition.

1991: Barkley Collaborates on Autobiography "Outrageous"

In 1991, Charles Barkley and sportswriter Roy S. Johnson collaborated on the autobiographical work "Outrageous." Barkley later quipped that he was misquoted in his own autobiography due to editorial choices made by Johnson.

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

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1993: Barkley Hosts Saturday Night Live

Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time in 1993. He hosted the show on four separate occasions between 1993 and 2018.

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1995: Considered running for Alabama governor

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

1996: Barkley Appears in Space Jam

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

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1998: Considered running for Alabama governor

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

2000: Barkley Writes Foreword for Rick Reilly's Book

In 2000, Charles Barkley wrote the foreword for Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly's book "The Life of Reilly", including a humorous quip about throwing Reilly through a plate glass window.

Life of Reilly

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March 3, 2001: Auburn Retired Jersey

On March 3, 2001, Auburn retired Charles Barkley's No. 34 jersey.

2002: Barkley Releases "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 his close friend Michael Wilbon.

I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It

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July 2006: Considering 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 in 2014 and stated he was looking for a house there to satisfy residency requirements.

2006: Advocated for gay marriage

In 2006, Charles Barkley told Fox Sports that he is a big advocate of gay marriage, stating "If they want to get married, God bless them."

July 2007: Declared support for Barack Obama

In July 2007, Charles Barkley made a video declaring his support for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

September 2007: Bought a house in Alabama

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.

2007: Footrace against Dick Bavetta

In 2007, Charles Barkley challenged NBA official Dick Bavetta to a footrace at the NBA All-Star Weekend for $5,000, which was then matched by the NBA and TNT for charity. Barkley won the race.

2007: Revealed gambling losses

In a 2007 interview with ESPN's Trey Wingo, Charles Barkley revealed that he had lost approximately $10 million through gambling, including $2.5 million in a six-hour period while playing blackjack.

February 2008: Announced candidacy 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: Announced candidacy for Governor of Alabama

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.

2008: Declared support for Barack Obama

In July 2007, Charles Barkley made a video declaring his support for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

December 31, 2008: Barkley Arrested for DUI in Scottsdale

On December 31, 2008, Charles Barkley was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona, for driving under the influence after being pulled over for running a stop sign. He failed field sobriety tests and refused a breath test. He was cooperative during the arrest.

February 19, 2009: Barkley Returns to TNT After Hiatus

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. T-Mobile resumed airing ads featuring Barkley shortly after his return.

November 24, 2009: Began to back off gubernatorial run idea

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

2010: Admits to Taking Money from Agents

In 2010, Charles Barkley admitted to receiving money from sports agents during his career at Auburn, but stated that he paid it all back.

2010: Confirmed he was not running in 2014

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

2011: Expressed support for the LGBT community

During a 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Day double-header on TNT, Charles Barkley responded to a statement made by Dr. King's daughter Bernice, by expressing support for equality for every man and woman, including the LGBT community.

2011: Barkley Becomes Spokesman for WeightWatchers

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

2013: Expressed agreement with the acquittal of George Zimmerman

In 2013, Charles Barkley expressed his agreement with the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin shooting.

2013: Stated that anyone 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: Comments on Russell Wilson accusations

In 2014, Charles Barkley addressed rumors that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was being accused of not being "black enough" on the radio show Afternoons with Anthony and Rob Ellis.

2014: Reiterated desire to run for governor

In September 2006, Charles Barkley reiterated his desire to run for governor of Alabama in 2014 and stated he was looking for a house there to satisfy residency requirements.

2014: Announced candidacy for Governor of Alabama

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.

August 2015: Announced support for John Kasich

In August 2015, Charles Barkley announced his support for Republican John Kasich in the 2016 presidential election.

2016: Announced support for John Kasich

In August 2015, Charles Barkley announced his support for Republican John Kasich in the 2016 presidential election.

2018: Barkley Hosts Saturday Night Live

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

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2019: Barkley Appears in "The Piña Colada Song" Episode of 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: Barkley Expresses Optimism About NBA Restart

In 2019, Charles Barkley expressed optimism about the NBA's planned restart to the 2019-2020 season in the NBA bubble, but worried about some players testing positive for COVID-19.

2019: Confirmed he would not be running for office

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

2020: Barkley Discusses COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Charles Barkley voiced concerns about the safety of children in schools, arguing that keeping them at home would widen the gap between the rich and the poor. He was also optimistic about the NBA's planned restart in the NBA bubble but worried about players testing positive.

2021: Improved performance at American Century Championship

In 2021, after undergoing training to improve his swing, Charles Barkley showed an improved performance in the American Century Championship pro-am tournament.

2022: Expressed support for gay and transgender people

In 2022, a video surfaced of Charles Barkley speaking at an event where he made comments vehemently in favor of the LGBT community, saying "If you're gay and transgender, I love you. And if anybody gives you sh-t, you tell them Charles said 'f--k you.'"

2023: Spoke out against the Bud Light boycott

In 2023, Charles Barkley spoke out against the Bud Light boycott in the United States, mainly by conservatives who oppose the brand's endorsements by transgender actress Dylan Mulvaney; he said that he would buy Bud Light for the crowd at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, and condemned the boycotters as "rednecks".