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30 Years After $20,000 Gift, Charles Barkley Admits He’s “Terrified” of His Shared Favourite Hobby With Michael Jordan

Published 05/22/2023, 7:01 AM EDT

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A few NBA players like to spend some time on the course if not on the court. League icons such as Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, and Charles Barkley can often be spotted indulging in their love for golf. In a recent interview, however, Barkley surprisingly disclosed his deep fear of the game, revealing the reasons for his apprehensions.

During the 90s, Charles Barkley regarded himself as a capable golfer, garnering attention for his skills on the course. At one point, there were discussions about his potential involvement with LIV golf, although he eventually made the decision to join NBA on TNT as an analyst.

Charles Barkley admits he’s terrified of golf

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In a recent revelation, Charles Barkley, the recipient of the 1993 MVP award, shared that he invested a significant amount of time in learning the intricacies of golf from various sources, but unfortunately, his efforts proved futile. Despite his attempts to improve his swing and overall game, Barkley admitted that he was unable to achieve the desired results.

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During an interview with Spittin Chiclets, Charles Barkley expressed his current stance on golf, stating, “I just play for charity. It’s not enjoyable for me anymore. I’m genuinely terrified of the golf ball.” It appears that the basketball Hall-of-Famer has abandoned any aspirations of enhancing his golf skills. Barkley further clarified that he solely participates in the sport for charitable purposes, as he has been unable to make any progress in his game over the past several decades and has ultimately relinquished the pursuit.

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During the NBA Finals in the early 1990s, there is a well-known anecdote about Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley engaging in a game of golf while their respective teams, the Bulls and the Suns, were competing.

Michael Jordan has a trick for Barkley

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During the 1993 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley decided to play a round of golf. At that point, the Bulls were leading the series 2-1. As a peculiar gesture, Jordan gifted Barkley a $20,000 ring. When questioned about the rationale behind the gift, Jordan candidly remarked, “He won’t get in my way the rest of the series, what’s $20,000 to me? Charles thinks we are great friends. I hate that fat f**k.” Jordan jokingly clarified that he presented the ring with the intention of ensuring that Barkley wouldn’t become a hindrance during the series. As it turned out, Jordan’s plan proved successful, as the Chicago Bulls emerged victorious in the finals, securing Jordan’s first three-peat.

WATCH THIS STORY: Charles Barkley slams 27-year-old Grizzlies star.

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Written by:

Aaditya Negi

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Aaditya is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports and has been following the game for a number of years. He is an avid fan of the NBA and follows what’s happening in the league on a daily basis. Having worked as an intern in the sports domain, his passion for writing arose from his fondness for the intricacies of the game.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra