For most of his career in and out of the NBA, former Phoenix Suns star Charles Barkley has always courted controversy. Just recently, though, a disrespectful Dallas Mavericks fan needlessly roasted him on the street, which generated backlash online.
In the 1984 NBA Draft, Charles Barkley was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the fifth overall pick. In his first year in the league, the forward performed admirably, averaging 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Team.
Barkley spent eight seasons with the 76ers but asked for a trade after a series of disappointing playoff exits. He then found a fresh start with the Phoenix Suns in 1992, where he enjoyed a remarkable debut season with the team. He won the MVP award while leading the team to a league-best record of 62-20 and a spot in the 1993 NBA Finals, where they fell short against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in a memorable six-game series.
Despite battling injuries in the following seasons, Barkley maintained a high level of play. The Suns reached the conference semifinals in 1994 and 1995 but were defeated by the Houston Rockets, who went on to win the NBA championship. After four seasons in Phoenix, Barkley was traded to the Rockets.
In Houston, Barkley hoped to secure the elusive championship ring. However, despite teaming up with aging superstars Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, the opportunity never materialized. Barkley announced that his fourth season with the Rockets would be his last in the NBA, ending his career without a championship ring.
Dallas Mavericks Fan Who Disrespected Charles Barkley Sparks Backlash
Barkley now covers the NBA Finals between Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks and Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtics. While walking to the arena, a disrespectful fan made fun of the former forward, as seen in a video posted by Overtime on X.
Bro got under Charles Barkley’s skin 😳 (via goatpdcts/TT) pic.twitter.com/hp0YDociL7
— Overtime (@overtime) June 9, 2024
Unsurprisingly, the video generated tons of backlash for the fan himself. As seen in the comments section of the said post, people came out in droves to defend Barkley and roast the disrespectful Mavs fan.
Even though Barkley may cause some controversy from time to time, there’s no question the career he built in the NBA deserves recognition. In any case, that Dallas fan got what he deserved.
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