If it wasn’t for this NBA legend, we’d not have the Round Mound of Rebound we know today. Two 76ers legends’ friendship is back to the fore after Shaquille O’Neal made an honest confession about his weight during his NBA career. Shaq is on a parallel weight-loss journey with a best friend/nemesis. After he revealed his real weight, his Inside the NBA co-host got real about his weight issues recently. He’s been an open book about his weight and health throughout his public life.

This time he credits a very good friend, teammate, and mentor for saving his NBA career. Shaq and his bestie are proving taking charge of your health is easier with a friend.

Charles Barkley credits a former 76ers star for saving him

By his own admission, Charles Barkley struggled with his weight. He was a standout in the SEC but his weight was hampering his NBA prospects. When he graduated from college, he weighed around 300lbs. He put his mind to it, dropping to 283lbs before the NBA draft. He now revealed he was at 300 lbs as a rookie. Barkley was able to play at 300lbs at the college level but it was not the same in the big leagues.

Chuck himself was aware his playtime was not up to par. So the then-rookie asked the Philadelphia 76ers veteran, Moses Malone why. Years later, Barkley would reference this story to tell Chris Wallace, “The best thing that ever happened to me was Moses Malone.”

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It was Malone who gave him the reality check. “Charles you’re fat and you’re lazy.” The answer was enough for Charles to go back home and cry. But Malone didn’t stop there. He called Barkley promptly and said that he’d help him lose weight.

“This guy took me under his wing, he got me down to 250,” Barkley said. “If that guy hadn’t took me under his wing and made me lose 50 pounds, I don’t how my life would’ve turned out.”

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As the story goes, Barkley almost tried to avoid Philly by binge-eating for 48 hours. He did end up with the franchise with powerhouses like Malone, Julius Erving, and Maurice Cheeks on the roster. They had led the team to the 1983 championship a year before Chuck came to the team.

Barkley famous formed a bond with Malone, also a rebounding genius, who was also his neighbor. After the legend passed away in 2015 at the age of 60, Barkley delivered an eulogy at his funeral. Their friendship is as deep as the one he shares with a certain someone now.

Shaquille O’Neal is Chuck’s kindred spirit

They might not see eye-to-eye on Inside the NBA, but Shaq and Chuck are the witty, smack-talking buddy-cop movie duo of the NBA. They get away with taking jabs at each other’s weight too. With their TNT return, these besties are also flaunting their new bodies.

While Barkley has lost at least 65 lbs, Shaq has shed around 55 lbs. O’Neal’s goals go way beyond. He wants to reach the weight he was when he won his championships with the Lakers. He was on Tom Brady’s podcast recently where he admitted that in his final year with the Lakers, he weighed around 415 lbs. 

That could be a sore spot for Chuck who was not playing quality minutes at 300 lbs. But Shaq’s weight went with his 7’1″ stature. Sir Charles’ 6’6″ physique can’t compare.

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Regardless, we wouldn’t be seeing this honest Barkley on TNT if Malone hadn’t helped him excel. What do you think about this moving friendship?