Charles Barkley

American basketball player who became one of the most dominant power forwards in NBA history, winning MVP in 1993 and earning 11 All-Star selections.

Charles Wade Barkley was born in Leeds, Alabama in 1963. He attended Auburn University and became one of the most physically unique players in college basketball history — a 6ft 4in power forward who dominated the SEC through strength, positioning and will rather than height. He averaged 14.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game across three seasons. He was the SEC Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. He was named All-SEC three times. His rebounding statistics — averaging nearly 10 per game despite being undersized — reflected the extraordinary technique, strength and positioning that he used to compensate for height disadvantage. Philadelphia 76ers selected him fifth overall in the 1984 NBA Draft. His professional career produced the NBA MVP award in 1993 and two Olympic gold medals. His Auburn career was the proving ground for the approach — relentless effort, physical dominance through technique and intensity — that defined his professional excellence. He became one of the most recognisable media personalities in American sports after retirement.

Barkley was an undersized but incredibly powerful forward who used his exceptional strength, quickness, and leaping ability to dominate both ends of the court. His low center of gravity and wide frame allowed him to outmuscle much taller opponents in the paint, while his surprising agility enabled him to score from various positions. He possessed excellent court vision and passing skills for a big man, and developed a reliable mid-range jump shot that complemented his aggressive inside game.

Barkley helped establish Auburn as a legitimate basketball program and demonstrated that undersized players could excel at the power forward position through skill and determination. His college success paved the way for Auburn's continued prominence in SEC basketball and inspired future generations of versatile big men.

• SEC Player of Year
• All-American
• All-SEC 3x
• SEC Tournament MVP
• SEC Player of the Year (1984)
• Consensus All-American (1984)
• All-SEC First Team (1982, 1983, 1984)
• SEC Tournament MVP (1985)