Be it his hard-hitting game or his blunt takes, Charles Barkley has captivated the NBA world for many decades. Hailing from Leeds, Alabama, Barkley rose from modest beginnings to become one of the game’s greatest players ever, a stunning feat that is a recognition of both his incredible talent and persistent resolve. Barkley’s mother played a huge role in his development and taught him valuable life lessons. Although she had to be stopped from extravagantly spending her son’s money after he made it big, she was once very strict about the 1993 NBA MVP’s belongings.
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Barkley began as an undersized forward but beat the odds and had a Hall of Fame career before gliding into a fantastic two-decade broadcasting career. It should go without saying that this iconic Phoenix Suns player has traveled a great distance since growing up in Leeds.
Charles Barkley’s mother used to be possessive about his belongings
The book ‘I May Be Wrong But I Doubt It’ delves into Charles Barkley’s life. Written by Michael Wilbon and Chuck himself, the book was published in 2002. In his book, the 11x NBA All-Star wrote that he vividly remembered that he was the first kid in his neighborhood to own a pair of Chuck Taylors. For the NBA, the players would receive a new pair of basketball shoes for every game. However, things were not the same for Chuck in his high school years.
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10 April 2019, US, Dallas: Basketball: NBA; Main Round; 81st Matchday; Dallas Mavericks – Phoenix Suns at Amercian Airlines Center. Legendary meeting on the occasion of Dirk Nowitzki’s last home game of his career. This is Charles Barkley speaking to Dirk Nowitzki. Photo: Philipp H?lsmann/dpa (Photo by Philipp H?lsmann/picture alliance via Getty Images)
He wrote in his book, “When I was fifteen, sixteen years old and playing basketball in high school, I would get one new pair of shoes every season. My mother would bring the shoes to the game, and after the game was over she came and waited at the locker room door, and I handed her the shoes and she took them back home. That’s the way it went all year, too, because that one pair of basketball shoes had to last the whole season. “
He continually reminds himself of that period of his life. The Philadelphia 76ers’ legend wrote, “Wow!” All I can say is “Wow!” That’s why I said I can’t imagine my life turning out any better than it has.” Nonetheless, Charles Barkley’s mother started splurging her son’s money after he became a star in the NBA.