History of Charles Barkley in Timeline
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.
1956: U.S. Olympic Team Surpassed
In 1992, the team averaged an Olympic record 117.3 points a game and won games by an average of 43.8 points, only surpassed by the 1956 U.S. Olympic team.
February 20, 1963: Charles Barkley's Birth
On February 20, 1963, Charles Wade Barkley was born. He would become a prominent American professional basketball player and television analyst.
1967: Wilt Chamberlain All-Star Game Record
Wilt Chamberlain recorded 22 rebounds in the 1967 All-Star Game. This was the same number of rebounds Charles Barkley had in his 1990 All-Star Game Appearance
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
1976: Suns First NBA Finals Appearance Since 1976
In 1976, the Phoenix Suns made their first NBA Finals appearance since 1976, before Charles Barkley led them to the finals in 1993.
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: Cut from the Olympic Team
In 1984, Charles Barkley was invited by Bob Knight to try out for the United States men's basketball team for the 1984 Summer Olympics, made it to the final cuts, but was not selected due to poor defense.
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.
1984: SEC Player of the Year
In 1984, Charles Barkley was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year.
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 NBA in 2-Point Percentage
Charles Barkley led the NBA in 2-point field goal percentage in the 1986-87 season.
1986: Most free throw attempts in a 7-game series
In 1986, Charles Barkley achieved the record for the most free throw attempts in a 7-game series with 100, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.
1986: Most turnovers in a 7-game series
In 1986, Charles Barkley had the most turnovers in a 7-game series with 37, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Milwaukee Bucks during the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.
1986: Leads league in Rebounding Average
In 1986, Charles Barkley led the league in rebounding average and earned his first rebounding title.
1986: Leads NBA in Rebounding
In the 1986-87 season, Charles Barkley became the shortest player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding, averaging a career-high 14.6 rebounds per game.
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: 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.
1987: Leads NBA in Effective Field Goal Percentage
In the 1986-1987 season, Charles Barkley led the league in effective field goal percentage, showcasing his offensive prowess.
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.
1988: Leads NBA in Effective Field Goal Percentage Again
In the 1987-1988 season, Charles Barkley again led the league in effective field goal percentage, solidifying his status as an efficient scorer.
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.
1989: Marriage to Maureen Blumhardt
In 1989, Charles Barkley married Maureen Blumhardt, with whom he resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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.
1989: Leads NBA in Offensive Rating
In the 1988-1989 season, Charles Barkley led the league in offensive rating, highlighting his impact on the offensive end.
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 fine of $162,500.
1990: Continues to Lead NBA in 2-Point Percentage
In the 1989-1990 season, Charles Barkley continued to lead the NBA in 2-point field goal percentage, maintaining his status as a highly efficient offensive player.
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, Charles Barkley attempted to spit on a fan during a game versus the New Jersey Nets but accidentally hit a young girl, leading to suspension and a $10,000 fine.
1991: Honoring Magic Johnson
During the 1991-92 season, his final year in Philadelphia, Charles Barkley wore number 32 instead of his usual 34 to honor Magic Johnson, who had announced he was HIV-positive.
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.
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: Olympic Gold Medal with "Dream Team"
In 1992, Charles Barkley competed in the 1992 Olympic Games and won a gold medal as a member of the United States men's basketball team, nicknamed the "Dream Team", which went 6-0 in the Olympic qualifying tournament and 8-0 against Olympic opponents. During the game versus Angola, Barkley elbowed Herlander Coimbra in the chest and was unapologetic after the game, claiming he was hit first.
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: Dream Team Selection
In 1992, Charles Barkley earned a gold medal as a member of the United States Olympic Basketball "Dream Team", compiling a perfect 16-0 record.
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.
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: Role Model Controversy
In 1993, Charles Barkley declared that sports figures should not be considered role models, causing national controversy.
1993: Earns League MVP Honors
In 1993, Charles Barkley earned league MVP honors due to his physical style of play.
1993: First time hosting Saturday Night Live
In 1993, Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time.
1993: Named NBA Most Valuable Player
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 role models prompted national news when he wrote the text for his "I am not a role model" Nike commercial, which was called a "family-values message" by Dan Quayle.
1993: Wins McDonald's Open
In 1993, despite severe back pains, Charles Barkley started the season by winning the 1993 McDonald's Open in Germany and being named the tournament's 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.
October 25, 1996: Suspension and Fine for Fighting
On October 25, 1996, Charles Barkley was suspended for the season opener and fined $5,000 for fighting Charles Oakley during a preseason game. The fight started after Oakley committed a flagrant foul on Barkley.
1996: Leads Team in Scoring at Olympics
At the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, Barkley led the team in scoring, rebounds, and field goal percentage, averaging 12.4 points on 81.6% field goal shooting, setting a U.S. Men's Olympic record, and contributed 6.6 rebounds per game as the team compiled a perfect 8-0 record and captured a gold medal.
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".
1996: NBA's 50th Anniversary Team Selection
In 1996, 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: Another Injury-Plagued Year
The 1997-98 season was another injury-plagued year for Barkley. He averaged 15.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. The Rockets were eliminated in five games by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs.
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.
November 10, 1999: Ejected from Game Against Lakers
On November 10, 1999, Charles Barkley was ejected from a game against the Los Angeles Lakers along with Shaquille O'Neal after O'Neal shoved Barkley, who then threw the ball at O'Neal.
December 8, 1999: Season-Ending Injury
On December 8, 1999, Barkley's season and career appeared to end prematurely at age 36 after he ruptured his left quadriceps tendon in Philadelphia.
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.
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.
March 3, 2001: Auburn Retired Barkley's Jersey
On March 3, 2001, Auburn retired Charles Barkley's No. 34 jersey.
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.
March 20, 2004: Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor
On March 20, 2004, the Phoenix Suns honored Charles Barkley by including him in the "Suns Ring of Honor" in recognition of his contributions to the team.
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.
2006: Support for LGBT Rights
In 2006, Charles Barkley expressed his support for LGBT rights, advocating for gay marriage and criticizing "fake Christians."
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: Supported Barack Obama
In July 2007, Charles Barkley made a video declaring his support for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.
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.
October 2007: Accumulation of Gambling Debt
In October 2007, Charles Barkley accumulated a $400,000 gambling debt at Wynn Las Vegas, which led to a civil complaint filed against him in May 2008.
2007: Footrace against Dick Bavetta
In 2007, Charles Barkley raced NBA official Dick Bavetta at the NBA All-Star Weekend for charity, winning the race.
2007: Gambling Losses Revealed
In a 2007 interview with ESPN, Charles Barkley revealed that he had lost approximately $10 million through gambling, including $2.5 million in a six-hour blackjack session, but claimed it wasn't a problem as he could afford it.
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.
May 2008: Wynn Las Vegas Casino Debt
In May 2008, the Wynn Las Vegas casino filed a civil complaint against Charles Barkley for failing to pay a $400,000 debt from October 2007, which he promptly paid and vowed to stop gambling for a year or two.
2008: Supported Barack Obama
In July 2007, Charles Barkley made a video declaring his support for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.
December 31, 2008: Arrested for DUI 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. His blood-alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit. Barkley pleaded guilty to DUI-related counts and running a red light, receiving a jail sentence and a fine.
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: Admits to Accepting Money from Agents
In 2010, Charles Barkley admitted that he accepted money from sports agents during his college career at Auburn, stating he paid it back after signing his first NBA contract.
2010: Confirmed Not Running in 2014
In 2010, Charles Barkley confirmed that he was not running for Governor of Alabama in 2014.
2010: Inducted into Hall of Fame as Part of "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: Advocating for Equality
During a 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Day broadcast on TNT, Charles Barkley advocated for equality for all, including the LGBT community.
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.
2013: Agreement with Zimmerman Acquittal
In 2013, Charles Barkley expressed his agreement with the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin shooting.
2013: Remarks on Gay Players
In 2013, in response to Jason Collins coming out, Charles Barkley stated that anyone who thinks they never played with a gay player is an idiot.
2014: Comments on Russell Wilson
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: Considered running for governor
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.
August 2015: Supported John Kasich
In August 2015, Charles Barkley announced his support for Republican John Kasich in the 2016 presidential election.
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: Criticism of Donald Trump
In 2016, Charles Barkley criticized Donald Trump's words and messages during the U.S. presidential election, even before Trump won the Republican primaries.
2016: Planned retirement from broadcasting
In 2016, Charles Barkley had initially planned to retire from broadcasting but signed another contract with Turner Sports instead.
2016: Supported John Kasich
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 May 11, 2017, American Race, a six-episode unscripted show hosted by Charles Barkley, premiered on TNT.
August 2017: Response to Confederate Monument Controversy
In August 2017, Charles Barkley responded to the controversy surrounding the removal of Confederate monuments, highlighted by the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
September 2017: Criticism of Trump's Response to Kaepernick Kneeling
In September 2017, Charles Barkley expressed 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.
December 2017: Mocking Trump's Tax Bill
In December 2017, Charles Barkley mocked President Trump's tax bill, sarcastically thanking Republicans for taking care of the wealthy at the expense of the poor.
2017: Support for Doug Jones in Alabama Senate Election
In 2017, during the United States Senate special election in Alabama, Charles Barkley supported Democrat Doug Jones and argued that his competitor, Roy Moore, should have been disqualified due to his association with a white separatist.
2018: Saturday Night Live Hosting
In 2018, Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live on four separate occasions between 1993 and 2018.
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: NBA Restart Plans
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 Not Running for Office
On Lance Armstrong's podcast in 2019, Charles Barkley confirmed that he would not be running for office.
2020: Thoughts on COVID-19 and Education/NBA Restart
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Charles Barkley stated that sending children to school during the pandemic would be unsafe and worried about the gap between rich and poor growing. Barkley expressed concerns about players testing positive for COVID-19 during the NBA's planned restart to the 2019-2020 season in the NBA bubble.
2020: Concern About Sports Becoming Too Political
In 2020, Charles Barkley expressed concern that sports were becoming too political and argued that turning sports into a "circus" would be counterproductive.
2020: Views on Defunding the Police and Breonna Taylor Killing
In 2020, Charles Barkley spoke out against defunding the police and commented on the killing of Breonna Taylor, stating that while he felt sad about her death, her situation was different from George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery because her boyfriend shot at the police.
October 2021: NBA's 75th Anniversary Team Selection
In October 2021, Charles Barkley was honored as one of the 75 greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team as part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary celebration.
2021: Improved Golf Performance
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 to remain as an analyst on Inside the NBA.
2022: Vehement Support for LGBTQ Community
In 2022, Charles Barkley expressed vehement support for the LGBTQ community, stating, "If you're gay and transgender, I love you."
2023: 12th Highest PER in NBA History
As of 2023, Charles Barkley has the 12th highest PER in NBA history and is 14th in win shares, highlighting his lasting impact on the league.
2023: Planned retirement at 60
Charles Barkley had stated he wanted to retire in 2023 when he turned 60 years old.
2023: Response to Bud Light Boycott
In 2023, Charles Barkley spoke out against the Bud Light boycott, calling the boycotters "rednecks" and stating he would buy Bud Light for the crowd at a celebrity golf tournament.
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.
June 2024: Guest Studio Analyst for Stanley Cup Final
In June 2024, Charles Barkley was a guest of Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final as a Studio analyst broadcast by ABC and produced by ESPN.
2025: Inside the NBA moved to ESPN
In 2025, Inside the NBA moved to ESPN.
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