Charles Barkley Admits Playing Basketball Was “Stupid”, Throws $40 Million Worth Career Under the Bus for Brave Services

Apparently, Charles Barkley doesn’t think his career was as significant as we believe it was. The Round Mound of Rebound is one of the greatest NBA stars to not win a ring but he won a few gold medals. He made a cool $40 million while he was at it and moved on to the studio where he served some of the most iconic moments in sportscasting history. Now he can also call himself a primetime talk show host thanks to CNN. At the closing of King Charles, though, Chuck shredded his 16-season NBA career in one sentence.

He did that only because he holds other services in higher regard. “The one thing I’m very sure of… I did something stupid like play basketball…” he told Gayle King. “If you’re a nurse, or you’re a teacher, fireman, someone who’s in the armed service, a policeman… those were to me like a real job.”

That’s not to say he regrets his career. “I did something stupid like played basketball. It’s given me the greatest life in the world.” But… he goes on to say, “If you take yourself too serious, you need to take a good look in the mirror.” (Ironically Ernie Johnson told Chuck to look in the mirror when he said he wanted a blimp and this March Madness the Chuck Blimp became a reality.)

Charles Barkley’s career is nothing to be scoffed at, no matter how much he sells himself short. The 1993 MVP title, 11 All-Star appearances, 1991 All-Star MVP, leading the league in rebounds in 1987, three international gold medals, and a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is a huge deal.

Then he spends the next two decades after retiring in broadcasting, including the Emmy-winning TNT show, Inside the NBA. And the four-time Emmy-winning studio analyst is currently nominated for a sports Emmy with a high chance of winning. He, however, humbles his career before other jobs.

Charles Barkley gives back to ‘real’ career-workers

Barkley’s admiration for those in service is well known. The famous quote, “there’s five real jobs in the world: teacher, fireman, policeman, doctor, and somebody who’s in the armed services,” is attributed to him.

He’s repeatedly implied that NBA pros need to take a cue from healthcare workers and educators. It was prominent when he chimed in on the load management discussion in the NBA last year. As per Barkley, NBA players earning millions shouldn’t complain. “This load management thing is an awful situation,” he said but added, “but I’m pretty sure teachers go to work every day, nurses go to work every day.”

His admiration isn’t limited to words. Among his many philanthropic acts, Barkley has donated to nursing schools including $1 million each to Tuskegee’s nursing program and the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Barkley loves what he does, starting from playing basketball to talking about it on TV. His respect for other jobs, though, is not trivial.