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Has any franchise Charles Barkley played for built a statue in his honor? There must have been one, right? It seems fitting considering he is one of the best players in league history. However, 7x NBA champion Robert Horry seems to have a different opinion. The 53-year-old believes that there is no such statue to honor Sir Charles.

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In the most recent episode titled ‘It’s a Complete C**p’ on ‘The Big Shot Bob’ podcast, Robert Horry was questioned about Barkley having a statue. In response, he merely shook his head, showing disagreement, and said, “Not even in Auburn.” Well, it turns out that he is wrong.

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Robert Horry’s lie gets exposed as Auburn University has immortalized the Chuckster

Auburn honored one of their greatest-ever players with a bronze statue at the Neville Arena in 2017. With his one foot dangling in the air, making a perfect 45 degrees, and hand raised to dunk the ball, this is one of the most iconic poses of the legend immortalized in bronze. Barkley was a star during his college days. He even earned the nickname, the ‘Round Mound of Rebound‘ during his time with Auburn.

However, when it comes to statues, he prefers the much lighter version of him. The creators granted him his wish as you see a skinny version of Chuck. Chuck’s statue isn’t just a symbol of inspiration, it’s more about the bond between the Auburn family.

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This is the connection that Barkley truly cherishes. “Everybody who ever played basketball at Auburn deserves a piece of this statue. Anytime you accomplish anything in life, it’s a group effort,” said Sir Charles at the inauguration ceremony.

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In 1984, he guided Auburn to its first-ever NCAA Tournament and earned SEC Tournament MVP. During his 84 games at Auburn, Sir Charles averaged 14.1 points and 9.6 rebounds, contributing to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances starting from his last season. But that’s not the only statue of Barkley in the US as there’s one more.

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Philadelphia 76ers honored Charles Barkley

In 2019, the Philadelphia 76ers paid tribute to the 11-time All-Star by building a statue in his honor along the Legends Walk outside their practice facility in Camden. The franchise also retired his jersey number 34 in 2001. He has scored the fifth most points in franchise history, a total of 14,184 points, he is third in scoring average and rebounds, and eighth in assists. The statue just became a tangible symbol of his greatness.

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While the trio joked about how Chuck’s best friend Shaquille O’Neal must create a Barkley statue and put it up in front of ‘Crispy Cream’, they seemed truly unaware of the two statues created in his honor. The legend’s legacy is indeed statue-worthy. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments section below.

READ MORE: Gooey Grandfather Charles Barkley Gets Exposed on Live TV With Revelation of His Only Social Media Account

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Pritha Debroy

3,476 Articles

Pritha Debroy works with the NFL Lifestyle Desk at EssentiallySports, where she explores the league beyond the sidelines and focuses on the cultural nuances of football. Bringing a fresh perspective shaped by her background in basketball lifestyle stories and cross-sport expertise, she highlights how NFL athletes build influence off the field. A graduate of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, our in-house initiative that trains writers under industry experts, Pritha specializes in long-form features and player-driven stories that capture the evolving identity of today’s NFL stars. Pritha combines her passion for storytelling with a thoughtful approach to sports culture and lifestyle. With strong communication skills and an eye for detail, she brings a distinctive voice to NFL journalism, delivering engaging and insightful content that resonates with readers.

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Pragya Vashisth

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