After an illustrious career on the court, Hall of Famer,?Charles Barkley, is conquering the sports world with his exceptional engaging skills on TV. His progress as a commentator on?Inside The NBA?has been pathbreaking. The former athlete puts his blunt and witty self out there, amassing considerable recognition from the basketball community, and beyond. Recently,?bodybuilding?legend,?Arnold Schwarzenegger?s ex-wife, Maria Shriver, took to her Twitter to laud Barkley for his accomplishments.?

She re-tweeted an interview by?60 Minutes?that highlights the basketball icon?s glorious journey. The interview encircled his unapologetic yet authentic persona on the show which accounted for his $10 million-per-season deal on the TNT show.?

Maria Shriver acknowledges Charles Barkley?s triumph

Per the tweet by 60 minutes, the 67-year-old, Shriver, wrote, ?Always loved Charles Barkley. I?m happy for his success!??Whereas the post by the CBS Network TV program featured a bold quote by Chuck. It precisely reflected his prime motive on the show, that is, to deliver unadulterated analysis and reviews to the fans.??I’m going to be fair, I don’t have a hidden agenda. Not many people on TV that you can say that about,??it read.?

For the last 23 years, the 6?6 athlete has been starring on the show with his veteran co-host, Ernie Johnson. Moreover, he signed a decade-long extension to his TNT deal last year, which benefits him in nine figures. When asked why, the people?s favorite, Barkley replied,??I think they know that I’m gonna be honest.??

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Furthermore, he claimed it?s simply basketball analysis, not critical worldly issues. Thus, he enjoys his time on air. He reasoned his bold identity on the show,??because the fan, the fans ain’t stupid. They just saw it. If I tell them that was a good game, they’re gonna be like: What the hell is Charles (laugh) talkin’ about???Although, that?s not all he brings to TV. He also mindfully addresses moral concerns, when needed. However, Barkley’s childhood wasn?t an archetypical one, yet he rose above his family’s prejudices.?

Charles Barkley?s off-centered childhood

As the interview revealed, at 1-year-old, Barkley was abandoned by his father, leaving his mother and granny to fend for themselves. ?I was very angry. And I was even angrier cause he kept sayin’ he was gonna send us money, and he didn’t do it,??he recounted. Interestingly,?he derived his forthright demeanor?from his granny. Hence, the source stated, ?Charles is the spittin’ image of Granny, really.??

The 60-year-old?s grandmother sold alcohol at their house to make ends meet. Their humble background compelled him to think that ?this was normal stuff.??The icon has a whole street named after himself 2 hours west of his hometown in Leeds. Although Barkley claimed he never persuaded the effort.?

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The MVP’s flair is etched on people?s minds for his unfiltered approach on TV. Barkley surely has a mind of his own and is not afraid to exhibit it. What do you think of his on-screen personality? Tell us in the comments.