History of Charles Barkley in Timeline
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.
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.
1967: Wilt Chamberlain's All-Star Rebound Record
In 1967, Wilt Chamberlain recorded 22 rebounds in an All-Star Game, a record that stood until Charles Barkley matched it.
1976: Suns First NBA Finals Appearance
In 1976, Charles Barkley led the Phoenix Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1976.
1983: 76ers won NBA Championship
In 1983, the Philadelphia 76ers, including Julius Erving and Moses Malone, won the NBA championship before Barkley joined the team.
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 with the fifth pick of the NBA draft.
1984: Olympic Team Tryouts
In 1984, Charles Barkley was invited to the spring tryouts for the U.S. Olympic team but did not make the final cut.
1984: Cut from the Olympic Team
In 1984, Charles Barkley was invited to try out for the United States men's basketball team for the Summer Olympics, but he was cut from the team due to poor defense.
1984: SEC Player of the Year
In 1984, Charles Barkley was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year.
1985: Named to the All-Rookie First Team
In 1985, 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 game against the Indiana Pacers.
1986: Most turnovers in a 7-game series
In 1986, Charles Barkley had the most turnovers in a 7-game series, with 37, while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.
1986: Leads NBA in 2-Point Field Goal Percentage
In 1986, Charles Barkley led the NBA in 2-point field goal percentage for the first time, starting a streak that would last until the 1990-91 season.
1986: Led League in Rebounding
In 1986, Charles Barkley led the NBA league in rebounding average, earning his first rebounding title.
1986: Most free throw attempts in a 7-game series
In 1986, Charles Barkley recorded the most free throw attempts, totaling 100, in a 7-game series playing for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.
March 4, 1987: Most offensive rebounds in a half
On March 4, 1987, Charles Barkley achieved the record for the most offensive rebounds in a half with 13, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers against the New York Knicks.
March 20, 1987: 25 Rebound Game
On March 20, 1987, Charles Barkley recorded 26 points and 25 rebounds in a game against the Denver Nuggets.
1987: Leads NBA in Effective Field Goal Percentage
In 1987, Charles Barkley led the NBA in effective field goal percentage for the first time, also leading the league in 2-point field goal percentage.
November 30, 1988: 41 Points, 22 Rebounds
On November 30, 1988, Charles Barkley recorded 41 points, 22 rebounds, five assists, and six steals in a 114–106 win over the Blazers.
1988: Leads NBA in Effective Field Goal Percentage
In 1988, Charles Barkley led the NBA in effective field goal percentage for the second straight season.
1989: Finished Second in MVP Voting
In 1989, Charles Barkley finished second in MVP voting behind Magic Johnson.
1989: Leads NBA in Offensive Rating
In 1989, Charles Barkley led the league in offensive rating.
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.
1990: Leads NBA in Offensive Rating
In 1990, Charles Barkley led the league in offensive rating for the second straight season.
1990: Fight with Bill Laimbeer
In 1990, Charles Barkley was involved in a fight with Detroit Pistons center Bill Laimbeer, resulting in a record total $162,500 fine.
March 1991: Spitting Incident
In March 1991, Charles Barkley spat on a young girl while attempting to spit at a heckler, stirring national controversy.
March 26, 1991: Spitting Incident
On March 26, 1991, during a game versus the New Jersey Nets, Charles Barkley attempted to spit on a fan who was allegedly heckling him, but the spit hit a young girl. He was suspended for one game and fined $10,000. He later apologized and developed a friendship with the girl and her family.
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.
1991: All-Star Game MVP
In 1991, Charles Barkley was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP.
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.
July 17, 1992: Traded to the 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: Olympic Gold Medal
In 1992, Charles Barkley competed in the Olympic Games, winning a gold medal as a member of the U.S. national team.
1992: Olympic Gold Medal with the Dream Team
In 1992, Charles Barkley won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the United States men's basketball "Dream Team," which dominated the competition, averaging a record 117.3 points per game and winning by an average of 43.8 points.
June 5, 1993: Most free throws made in a half
On June 5, 1993, Charles Barkley made a record 19 free throws in a half while playing for the Phoenix Suns against the Seattle SuperSonics.
1993: Wins McDonald's Open MVP
Despite experiencing severe back pain, Charles Barkley started the 1993-94 season by winning the 1993 McDonald's Open in Germany and was named the tournament's MVP.
1993: Role Model Declaration
In 1993, Charles Barkley declared that sports figures should not be considered role models, stirring controversy.
1993: Earns League MVP Honors
In 1993, Charles Barkley earned league MVP honors, highlighting his physical style of play and his contributions to the sport.
1993: Named NBA MVP
In 1993, Charles Barkley was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).
1993: I am not a role model Nike commercial
In 1993, Charles Barkley's argument that athletes should not be considered role models gained national attention after he wrote the text for his "I am not a role model" Nike commercial, which prompted discussions about the responsibilities of athletes and the role of parents.
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 the Phoenix Suns
In the 1995-96 season, Charles Barkley played his last season with the Phoenix Suns, leading the team in scoring, rebounds, and steals, while also earning his tenth All-Star Game appearance and reaching milestones of 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.
October 25, 1996: Suspension and Fine for Fighting Charles Oakley
On October 25, 1996, Charles Barkley was suspended and fined $5,000 for fighting Charles Oakley during a preseason game after Oakley committed a flagrant foul.
1996: Leads Olympic Team in Scoring and Rebounds
At the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, Charles Barkley led the team in scoring, rebounds, and field goal percentage, contributing to the team's perfect 8-0 record and gold medal victory.
1996: Second Olympic 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'.
1996: Named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary Team
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.
1997: Injury-Plagued Season with the Rockets
The 1997-98 season was another injury-plagued year for Charles Barkley. He averaged 15.2 points on .485 shooting and 11.7 rebounds per game.
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.
November 10, 1999: Ejection from Game Against Lakers
On November 10, 1999, Charles Barkley, along with Shaquille O'Neal, was ejected from a game against the Los Angeles Lakers after throwing the ball at O'Neal following a shove.
December 8, 1999: Ruptures Quadriceps Tendon
On December 8, 1999, Charles Barkley's season and career seemingly ended prematurely after rupturing his left quadriceps tendon in Philadelphia at the age of 36.
April 19, 2000: Final Game and Retirement
On April 19, 2000, Charles Barkley returned for one final game against the Vancouver Grizzlies, scoring a memorable basket and retiring to a standing ovation after completing his goal of walking off the court on his own terms.
2000: Achieved 20,000 Points, 10,000 Rebounds, and 4,000 Assists
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 '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.
2000: Studio Analyst for TNT
Since 2000, Charles Barkley has served as a studio analyst for Turner Network Television (TNT), appearing on pre-game and halftime shows, as well as special NBA events. He is a regular on Inside the NBA.
March 3, 2001: Auburn Retired Jersey
On March 3, 2001, Auburn retired Charles Barkley's No. 34 jersey.
2002: Hosted Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson
In 2002, Charles Barkley began hosting 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 his close friend Michael Wilbon.
2003: Continued to host Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson
In 2003, Charles Barkley continued to host a sports and general topics talk show with guests on TNT called Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson.
March 20, 2004: Included in the "Suns Ring of Honor"
On March 20, 2004, the Phoenix Suns honored Charles Barkley by including him in the "Suns Ring of Honor".
2004: First Celebrity Guest Picker for College GameDay
In 2004, Charles Barkley became the first-ever celebrity guest picker for College GameDay.
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.
2006: Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In 2006, Charles Barkley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his individual career.
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.
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.
December 31, 2008: DUI Arrest in Scottsdale, Arizona
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 and failing field sobriety tests. His blood-alcohol level was .149, nearly twice the legal limit. He later pleaded guilty to DUI-related charges.
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: Admitted to Taking Money from Sports Agents
In 2010, Charles Barkley admitted that he had asked for and been given money from sports agents during his college career at Auburn.
2010: Confirmed he was not running in 2014
In 2010, Charles Barkley confirmed that he was not running for governor of Alabama in 2014.
2010: Hall of Fame Induction as a Member of the Dream Team
In 2010, Charles Barkley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team".
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.
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 Wild Card Playoffs
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 the same night.
November 2012: Contemplated retirement from broadcasting
In November 2012, Charles Barkley announced he was contemplating retirement from broadcasting after 13 years, with a potential end in 2016, citing a need for a new challenge.
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.
July 2016: Announced hosting of "The Race Card"
In July 2016, it was announced that Charles Barkley would host a six-episode unscripted show called The Race Card, which was later renamed American Race.
2016: Early Criticism of Donald Trump
In 2016, Charles Barkley expressed his disgust with Donald Trump's words and messages during the U.S. presidential election campaign, even before Trump secured the Republican nomination.
2016: Planned broadcasting retirement
In 2016, Charles Barkley had previously planned to retire but ended up signing another contract with Turner Sports.
2016: John Kasich in the presidential election
In August 2015, Charles Barkley announced his support for Republican John Kasich in the 2016 presidential election.
May 11, 2017: Premiere of "American Race" on TNT
On May 11, 2017, Charles Barkley's show, "American Race", premiered on TNT. The show, previously titled "The Race Card", is an unscripted series.
August 2017: Response to Confederate Monument Controversy
In August 2017, Charles Barkley responded to the controversy surrounding the removal of Confederate monuments, triggered by the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
September 2017: Criticism of Trump's Stance on Kaepernick
In September 2017, Charles Barkley voiced his disappointment in President Trump's criticism of Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, for kneeling during the U.S. National Anthem during the 2016 NFL season, although Barkley stated that he does not support athletes kneeling during the National Anthem as a form of protest.
December 2017: Mocking Trump's Tax Bill
In December 2017, Charles Barkley criticized President Trump's tax bill, sarcastically thanking Republicans for benefiting the wealthy at the expense of the poor.
2017: Support for Doug Jones in Alabama Senate Election
In 2017, Charles Barkley supported Democrat Doug Jones in the United States Senate special election in Alabama. He argued that Jones' competitor, Roy Moore, should have been disqualified due to his association with a white separatist.
2018: Hosting Saturday Night Live
In 2018, Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live for the fourth time.
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.
2020: Views on Police Reform and Breonna Taylor Case
In 2020, Charles Barkley supported police and prison reforms but opposed defunding the police. He also commented on the killing of Breonna Taylor, acknowledging the tragedy but noting the circumstances differed from cases like George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery because her boyfriend shot at the police.
2020: Concerns About Sports Becoming Too Political
In 2020, Charles Barkley voiced his concerns that sports were becoming overly political, arguing that it risked alienating viewers who sought entertainment rather than constant political debate.
October 2021: Named to the 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.
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.
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, the owner of TNT, to remain an analyst on Inside the NBA.
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: Ranked Among NBA's All-Time Leaders
As of 2023, Charles Barkley is ranked among the NBA's all-time leaders, holding the 12th highest PER in NBA history and 14th in win shares, showcasing his enduring impact on the sport.
2023: Planned broadcasting retirement at 60
Charles Barkley stated that he wanted to retire when he turned 60 in 2023 from broadcasting.
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".
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.
June 2024: Announced then reversed his retirement from television
In June 2024, Charles Barkley announced his intention to retire from television following the conclusion of the 2024–25 NBA season but later reversed this decision in August, opting to stay with TNT Sports.
June 2024: Guest Analyst at the Stanley Cup Finals
In June 2024, Charles Barkley served as a guest analyst for Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, broadcast by ABC and produced by ESPN.
2025: Inside the NBA moved to ESPN
In 2025, Inside the NBA will be moving to ESPN.
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