On April 28, 2018, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 50th Class.  In celebration of this milestone, they will be providing information on all of their Inductees beginning with the Inaugural Class of 1969, and culminating with the Class of 2018. 

Local legend Charles Barkley was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in the Class of 2001. 

Charles Barkley was born February 20, 1963 in Leeds, Alabama. He played collegiately at Auburn. Barkley was named SEC Player of the Year by AP and UPI in 1984. He led the SEC in rebounding three straight years and was selected the SEC Player of the Decade in the 1980’s. 

He was drafted fifth overall in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and named by the NBA as one of the top 50 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time (1997). Barkley posted career averages of 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 1,073 career games. He had career totals of 23,737 points and 12, 546 rebounds.  

Barkley was the twelfth player in NBA history to reach the 20,000 points, 10,000 rebound plateau, the third player to reach the 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists in a career. In 1993 he was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player with the Phoenix Suns. He was a five-time All NBA first team member. He was voted to 11 All-Star games, eight as a starter.  

Barkley was named MVP of the 1991 All-Star game (17 points, 22 rebounds). He was a member of the Dream Teams that won two Gold medals in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and led both Olympic teams in scoring.