Charles Barkley, a name that defines excellence in basketball, is popular for his intense competition when he steps on the court. Barkley had a great career with the NBA and he is renowned for being one of the most colorful personalities in basketball. However, in 2015, revelations about Barkley’s practice approach were revealed and caught many off guard.

It is Hersey Hawkins, Barkley’s former teammate, who revealed unexpected details about the player’s work ethic, or rather its absence.

Barkley’s Unconventional Approach to Practice

Charles Barkley was one of a handful of basketball players with such an unwavering determination that they were etched permanently in basketball history. He was a whirlwind of energy on the court, an unstoppable force.

Indeed, Barkley’s true feelings about the practice were laid bare by Hersey Hawkins in a revealing interview in 2015. Hawkins argues Barkley had rather unusual practice habits. He was often found on the sidelines reading papers or discussing things with other players while seemingly unconcerned. Barkley’s strange behavior seemed to show that he had no motivation for practice, but to be honest it was all just a trick.

Hawkins further stated that when Barkley prepared, this was done with a vengeance: he would practice and dominate, kill everybody, and go back and sit down. As soon as he stepped onto the court, he would be fully energized and completely control every point played. In this fashion, the coach could tell the story of his occasional wild spurs of practice, which were to remind others that he had not surrendered his control over them.

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Barkley’s psychological transformation from a laid-back spectator to an unstoppable force during exercise demonstrates his capability of self-motivation which was what was needed.

Barkley’s Unusual Work Ethic: An Enigma Solved

It was Hawkins Hersey’s revelation regarding Charles Barkley’s practice habits that uncovered the complexity of Barkley’s approach to the game. While some doubted his dedication, one could argue that to turn practice into the demonstration of the skills, Barkley’s approach was in fact evidence of his excellence.
The world of sports is filled with certain expectations for athletes, their training, discipline, and perseverance. Barkley however challenges all these conventions. It points out to us that greatness comes in different ways, and genius goes against the conventional. Such was Barkley’s desire that he could have simply “gone out there and killed everybody.”

Moreover, his readiness to do it his way with no reservations at all when one considers that such an attitude was characteristic not only for him but also for others in the league speak.

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Finally, through Hawkins, we learn that Barkley’s surprising practice approach demonstrates that greatness knows no limits. Though his approach was peculiar, it bore fruits, and he is regarded as among the greatest of all time in the game of basketball. This only adds to the unique mythology, for Barkley is a truly unique individual and a tale about a double life, on and off the court.