Charles Wade Barkley was born in Leeds, Alabama. He was the first black baby born at the local segregated hospital and was among the first black students at his elementary school. Barkley attended Leeds High School where he lettered in basketball.

Barkley failed to make the varsity basketball team his junior year, standing at just 5 ft 10 in. He hit a growth spurt over the summer and was now 6 ft 4 in for his senior season. Barkley earned a starting role on the varsity squad and helped lead Leeds to a state championship appearance. It was only in the semi-final game against Butler High School that Barkley began to get attention from collegiate programs. Barkley played well and scored 26 points against Alabama’s top recruit, Bobby Lee Hurt.

Auburn Basketball excelled to a new level with Barkley on the team. Barkley’s unique and exhilarating playing style, combined with being shorter than the typical center and overweight stature, thrilled Auburn fans. Barkley still holds multiple Auburn records, including rebounds per game and shooting percentage. Auburn made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1984, Barkley’s final season on the Plains.

Following his junior season at Auburn, Barkley declared for the 1984 NBA Draft. The Philadelphia 76ers would select Barkley fifth overall (Akeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan went first and third, respectively) and become teammates with Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Maurice Cheeks. Barkley would play 16 seasons in the NBA for three franchises – 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and the Houston Rockets.

Barkley competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games for Team USA. The 1992 Games were the first to allow NBA players to compete, which helped create “The Dream Team” consisting of Barkley, Jordan, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, and more. Team USA and Barkley would take home the gold medals in both 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, setting many records along the way.

Barkley is considered one of the best players in Auburn and NBA history. At Auburn, Barkley was named SEC Player of the Year in 1984, while being named to three All-SEC selections and a second-team All-American. He would earn NBA MVP honors in 1993, be named to eleven All-Star Games, and be named to the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. Barkley’s #34 is retired by Auburn, Philadelphia, and Phoenix.

After retiring from the NBA in 2000, Barkley has worked in television for TNT covering the NBA. Today, Barkley is an analyst on Inside the NBA with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal. Since 2011, he has also worked the NCAA Tournament broadcasts.