There are arguably very few players in NBA history who dominated their opponents the way Charles Barkley did. Although his height was only listed as 6’6″, Barkley was a commanding presence inside the paint. The former MVP played as a power forward at a time when big men used to control the game. The credit for his success could actually be given to his strong legs.

Barkley was drafted in 1984 by the Philadelphia 76ers. There were doubts about his style of play because of his height. However, he knew what he could bring to the table and his physical game matched his personality. Barkley always had strong legs, which eventually helped him make a name for himself in the NBA.

In a recent interview, Barkley revealed that he used an unorthodox method to strengthen his legs. He used to jump a five-foot fence to make his legs stronger even before going to college. He said, “Yeah, I jumped the fence just getting my legs stronger. You know me like we had no big weight room“.

“Physically, my legs were comparable to anybody anywhere“, revealed Barkley. He also mentioned that he could lift tons of weight after he went to college and became a pro only because he had always worked on his legs.

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He continued, “So jumping that fence kept helping my explosiveness, really helped build my a** up, to be honest with you. I had tremendous quads“. Barkley felt it was huge to get his legs as strong as possible.

Charles Barkley was a powerhouse

Despite his comparatively short stature to the other bigs in the league, Charles Barkley was a force to be reckoned with. Barkley weighed more than 260 lbs which helped him get physical. His career rebounding average is 11.7 due to which he was nicknamed ‘The Round Mound of Rebound’.

Barkley was named an All-Star for 11 consecutive seasons thanks to his excellent inside presence. After spending eight years in Philadelphia, Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he was named the MVP. The Suns reached the Finals in his first season where they eventually lost to Michael Jordan‘s Chicago Bulls.

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Chuck is undoubtedly one of the best players in the history of the game. His impact on the game is paramount. Ever since retiring, he has established himself as a very popular media personality.

What is your favorite Charles Barkley moment, either on or off the court? Let us know in the comments below.