Charles Barkley: Before He Became A Loveable TV Host, He Was The NBA’s Bad Boy

Charles Barkley is one of the most well-known athletes in American history. He was an NBA player for several years before transitioning into a television commentator and finally, becoming a loveable TV host.

The “charles barkley net worth” is a biography of the NBA player. It discusses how he became a loveable TV host, before his career as an NBA player.

Everyone’s favorite NBA TV commentator is Charles Barkley. After retiring from the NBA, he joined TNT’s Inside the NBA in 2000.

The program has grown so successful as a result of Barkley’s contributions that it was given its own four-part documentary earlier this year.

After retiring from the NBA, Barkley appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live to explain his choice to join TNT:

“Jimmy, it’s the finest choice I’ve ever made.” It’s a lot of joy coming to work with these people.”

“I mean, getting to see some of the greatest basketball players in the world all of the time is really incredible,” Barkley concluded. “But to go to work and have fun with those people… Ernie [Johnson] asked me how long I was going to stay there when I got the job. And I stated I’d remain here for around three years before moving on to greater and better things. But nothing larger or better has appeared, which is why I’m trapped.”

Since joining the TNT team, Barkley has aided in the growth of the ratings. Part of the reason is because he adds a sense of humour to the presentation.

Another aspect is some of the contentious remarks and acts he’s made and taken over the years.

During the 2007 NBA finals, for example, after the 8th-seeded “We Believe” Golden State Warriors beat the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks, Barkley said of Oakland, California:

“It irritates me that they’re in Golden State instead of LA.” It isn’t a town.”

This infuriated the whole city of Oakland, including Gary “The Glove” Payton, an Oakland native.

“This isn’t a thrift shop; this is Oakland,” Payton said.

Payton walked around Oakland with a video camera capturing people’s reactions to Barkley for a feature on Inside the NBA. Then it showed a humiliating film of Barkley being dunked on during a game versus Golden State.

Barkley made one of the most well-known “controversial statements” during his stint at TNT in 2007, when he made a sly remark regarding referee Dick Bavetta.

It occurred during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings on January 4, 2007. Instead of being in the TNT studio for this game, Barkley was one of the game’s commentators, with Marv Albert.

Barkley, who was 43 at the time, boasted about his ability to outpace Bavetta, who was 67.

Albert disagreed with Barkley, claiming that Bavetta’s role required him to run the whole time. This set the stage for the historic race between the two, which took place over the NBA All-Star weekend in 2007.

Barkley and Bavetta had their race on All-Star Saturday night. The NBA and TNT have chosen to contribute $50,000 to the Southern Nevada Boys & Girls Clubs (the 2007 All-Star Game took place in Las Vegas).

In addition to the NBA and TNT payments, Barkley and Bavetta had a side bet in which the loser would contribute $5,000 to a charity of Barkley’s choice.

Barkley would win the race, and the two would have an unforgettable kiss afterward.

On December 31, 2008, Barkley was arrested for DUI, which was one of the largest issues he’d ever faced, particularly after his playing days were finished.

Barkley took two months off from TNT as a result of this, but he returned and addressed his predicament on television. This earned him a lot of admirers’ admiration.

Barkley has won four Emmys for Sports Commentary in his TV commentator career, in 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2020.

During his tenure at TNT, Barkley has been involved in additional scandals, but none of them have harmed his reputation or the affection he has from his fans…

It wasn’t always like this. For the most of his playing career, Barkley was regarded as the league’s “Bad Boy.”

Yes, Barkley took over when the “Bad Boys” of the Detroit Pistons, particularly Bill Laimbeer, retired.

Barkley’s NBA career began in 1984, when he was selected fifth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.

In the 1984-85 season, the 76ers had a lot of talent, including Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Maurice Cheeks.

The 76ers won the title with these key players only two years before Barkley was drafted.

A young Barkley, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by this. As a rookie, he averaged 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds.

Barkley would go on to play for the Philadelphia 76ers for eight seasons until being dealt to the Phoenix Suns in 1993, where he would reach his lone NBA Finals.

Barkley’s Suns were drawn up against Michael Jordan’s Bulls, and they lost in six games.

After four years in Phoenix, Barkley finished his career with the Houston Rockets, where he played for another four years before retiring.

Controversies

Throughout his career, Charles Barkley has been involved in a number of issues. His irritability was often reported in the sports section of publications.

Barkley famously brawled with Detroit Pistons center Bill Laimbeer during a game in 1990. He was subsequently hit with a record fine of $162,500.

Barkley has fought his fair share of opponents on the floor during his career, notably Shaquille O’Neal in 1999.

Apart from on-court brawls, Barkley’s first major controversy occurred in 1991 during a game against the New Jersey Nets.

Barkley was justifiably enraged by a fan hurling racist obscenities at him.

The issue arose when Barkley attempted to spit on the guy. He spat on an innocent girl because he missed the guy.

Then, in 1992, Barkley was out drinking with his Philadelphia 76ers colleague, Jayson Williams, in a Chicago club.

Barkley was stabbed with a knife by an enraged fan. Fortunately for Barkley, Williams smacked the fan in the face with a cup.

Barkley’s behaviors often contradicted the “role model” acts of several of the league’s other elite players.

Barkley took a firm stand against this, which drew even more attention to him.

“If a million men in prison can dunk a basketball, should they be role models?” In a 1993 interview, Barkley said.

Barkley went on to star in the iconic “I’m not a role model” Nike commercial, which made national headlines.

Barkley went on to elaborate on his statement after the advertisement aired:

“I believe sportsmen are expected to be role models by the media because there is some envy involved.” It’s as if they’re saying, “This is a young black boy who makes a job playing a game, therefore we’re going to make it difficult for him.” And what they’re actually saying is that children should look up to someone they can’t be like because there aren’t many people who can be like us. Michael Jordan cannot be emulated by children.”

The message Barkley intended to get through to families around the country was that parents, not sports, movie stars, or singers, should be their children’s role models.

Barkley was embroiled in controversy even as the United States’ “Dream Team” dominated the 1992 Olympics.

Barkley elbowed Angola’s Herlander Coimbra in the chest after hitting a layup for no apparent reason.

After the game, Barkley remained unrepentant, alleging he was struck first, which did not seem to be the case.

This tarnished Barkley’s reputation across the globe. People dubbed Barkley the “Ugly American” because of his physicality and the rage he displayed on the floor, according to Michael Jordan.

Barkley’s most infamous moment as a player occurred in 1997. He hurled a guy through a window while at an Orlando pub.

Accused of serious violence and resisting arrest, Barkley was arrested. Clyde Drexler, a teammate, would subsequently bail him out.

In response to the incident, Barkley said, “If you bother me, I’m going to whip your a**.” “I banged his a** against the glass when he threw ice in my face.” That is something I do not refute. I stood up for myself. He got what was coming to him.”

At the end of the day, Charles Barkley is one of the best players in NBA history, and he’s one of those rare guys who has never won a championship.

From Barkley’s tremendous NBA career to his fantastic TV commentator career, it’s reasonable to say it’s been a joy to watch him, despite the controversy. 

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Charles Barkley is a retired basketball player. Before he became a loveable TV host, he was the NBA’s bad boy. He has had several controversies throughout his career. Reference: charles barkley stats.

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