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Imago

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It was last week that the Supreme Court made a monumental ruling. It disallowed the use of affirmative action for college. This would mean institutes could no longer consider race as a canon for admission. The decision drew polarizing reactions. In the midst of all the debates regarding the call, Charles Barkley acted purely on his instincts. As a politically active individual, the NBA Hall of Famer wasn’t all fond of the Supreme Court’s verdict. So he took matters into his own hands to aid his alma mater, Auburn University.

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In a matter of moments, he made major changes to his will to ensure the educational institute can be ‘diverse’. It was a classic Sir Charles deed, going off his impulse. And a well-respected media personality commended the Phoenix Suns legend for his contribution.

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Charles Barkley gets a pat on his back from a media personnel

For those not aware, Charles Barkley completely changed his will. At first, he had pledged $5 million to help kids from poor households. But after the ruling of the Supreme Court, he had a change of heart. The amount and destination didn’t change, the money remains for Auburn University. Except now instead of helping the needy, the $5 million will be reserved exclusively for scholarships of Black Students.

“I was talking to my friends and said, ‘I need to make sure Black folks always have a place at Auburn,’” said Charles Barkley in reaction to the verdict.

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The 11-time All-Star wants to ensure Auburn University continues to diversify and his contribution is his “way of trying to make sure Auburn stays diverse.”

Barkley’s decision became a chatting subject during the ‘Marchand & Ourand’ sports podcast. Paul Finebaum, a renowned media personality for ESPN spoke highly of Barkley for taking the bold step. Staying away from the political standpoint, the 67-year-old was thoroughly impressed with the TNT analyst’s “remarkable gesture”

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“This is politics aside, I stay away from that at all cost. But after the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, [Barkley] decided to redo his will…to leave $5 million to Auburn University, his alma mater, to help keep Auburn diverse. I found that to be a remarkable gesture by Charles because a lot of people talk a big game and tweet about how wrong politics are…but Charles actually puts his money where his mouth is,” said Fainebaum.

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READ MORE-Forced by Charles Barkley to Accept His Harsh Reality, Stephen A. Smith Puts His Plans to Combat Supreme Court’s Order on Display

Charles Barkley might spit fire as an analyst, but he truly is a benevolent personality. He is determined to be socially impactful, and his philanthropy is proof of his intentions.

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,520 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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