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, nicknamed "Sir Charles", is a retired American professional basketball player and current television analyst. He played 16 seasons in the NBA, known for his rebounding and scoring prowess despite being shorter than the average power forward. Barkley was an 11-time NBA All-Star, 11-time All-NBA Team member, and the 1993 NBA MVP. He was recognized as one of the NBA's greatest players, earning spots on the league's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. After his successful playing career, he transitioned to broadcasting.

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 later 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: SEC Player of the Year

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

1989: Marriage to Maureen Blumhardt

In 1989, Charles Barkley married Maureen Blumhardt. They reportedly met in the mid to late 1980s when Barkley played for the Philadelphia 76ers.

1989: Birth of daughter Christiana

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

Others born on this day/year

1991: Publication of 'Outrageous'

In 1991, Charles Barkley collaborated with sportswriter Roy S. Johnson to release his autobiographical book, '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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1991: Honoring Magic Johnson

In the 1991 season, Charles Barkley wore number 32 to honor Magic Johnson, who had announced he was HIV-positive. Barkley also apologized for having made light of his condition previously and addressed concerns about contracting HIV through contact with Johnson during basketball games.

1993: Hosting Saturday Night Live

In 1993, Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live.

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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.

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 1998, Charles Barkley considered running as a Republican candidate for Alabama's governorship in the 1998 election. He did not run in the end.

2000: Foreword for 'The Life of Reilly'

In 2000, Charles Barkley wrote the foreword for 'The Life of Reilly', a book by Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly, humorously stating that Reilly was not someone he'd want to throw through a 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: 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 his close friend Michael Wilbon.

I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It

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July 2006: Lent credence to idea of 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 and noted that he would not be eligible to run until 2014.

2006: Expressed support for LGBT rights

In 2006, Charles Barkley told Fox Sports that he is a big advocate of gay marriage and believes that if gay people want to get married, then 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: Declared himself an Independent and bought a house in Alabama

In September 2007, Charles Barkley announced that he bought a house in Alabama and declared himself an Independent, not a Democrat, during a broadcast on Monday Night Football, to satisfy residency requirements for a potential 2014 campaign for governor.

October 2007: Failed to pay gambling debt

In October 2007, Charles Barkley accrued a $400,000 debt at the Wynn Las Vegas casino that went unpaid, leading to a lawsuit in May 2008.

2007: Race against Dick Bavetta

In 2007, Charles Barkley challenged NBA official Dick Bavetta to a footrace at the NBA All-Star Weekend for charity, which Barkley won.

2007: Revealed gambling losses

In a 2007 interview with ESPN's Trey Wingo, Charles Barkley revealed he had lost approximately $10 million through gambling and admitted to losing $2.5 million in six hours playing blackjack.

February 2008: Announced candidacy for Governor of Alabama in 2014

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

May 2008: Wynn Las Vegas Casino filed civil complaint against Barkley

In May 2008, The Wynn Las Vegas casino filed a civil complaint against Charles Barkley after he failed to pay a $400,000 debt stemming from October 2007. Barkley promptly paid the casino and vowed to stop gambling.

October 27, 2008: Officially 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: Expressed support for Barack Obama

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

February 19, 2009: Return 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 idea of running for governor

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

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 LGBT rights

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 saying, "People try to make it about black and white. [But] 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 television and online advertisements.

2013: Expressed agreement with George Zimmerman acquittal

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

2013: Stated opinion about gay players

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: Commented on Russell Wilson accusation

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

2014: Previously planned to run for Governor

In February 2008, Charles Barkley announced that he would be running for Governor of Alabama in 2014 as an Independent. In 2010, he confirmed that he was not running in 2014.

2014: Expressed interest in running for Governor

In September 2006, Charles Barkley reiterated his desire to run for governor of Alabama and noted that he would not be eligible to run until 2014.

August 2015: Supported John Kasich in the 2016 presidential election

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

2016: John Kasich in the presidential election

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

2018: Hosting Saturday Night Live

In 2018, Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live for the fourth time.

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2019: NBA Restart Concerns

In 2019, 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: 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 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: Views on School Safety and NBA Restart During COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Charles Barkley expressed concerns about children's safety in schools but also warned that keeping them at home would exacerbate the gap between rich and poor. He was optimistic about the NBA's restart in the NBA bubble but worried about potential COVID-19 cases among players.

2021: Improved performance in the American Century Championship

In 2021, Charles Barkley had an improved performance in the American Century Championship after undergoing training to improve his golf swing.

2022: Expressed vehement support for LGBTQ community

In 2022, a video surfaced of Charles Barkley speaking at an event where he made comments vehemently in favor of the LGBTQ 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 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".