Do people in today’s generation realize what a force of nature Charles Barkley was in his heyday with the Suns?

There’s a reason why celebrities are breaking out the #34 throwbacks: Barkley had a style all his own and played with a ferocity you simply won’t see in today’s day and age.

“The Round Mound of Rebound” doesn’t have the long limbs and height of many of today’s players, but let’s be honest now, height is overrated.

After all, it was a Mavericks squad led by J.J. Barea, a 5-foot-10 backup point guard, Jason Terry, a gernously-listed 6-foot-2 journeyman two-guard, and other supporting undersized players that took down the LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dewayne Wade-led Heat back in 2011.

And last year, a 6-foot-7 throwback swingman in the mold of Scottie Pippen with the wide-grip, sticky hands of Michael Jordan that dethroned the mighty Golden State Warriors.

Granted, Kevin Durant was out. But that doesn’t discount the fact that height is and always has been overrated in basketball, as the success of Fred VanVleet, a generously listed 6-foot guard for the Raptors, also attested to in last year’s Finals.

Simply put, Charles Barkley could dominate in any era, and besides that who are you to tell him he couldn’t to his face?

Rarely Seen Video: Barkley With Monster Putback Dunk to Cinch Playoff Career High

Listed at 6-foot-6, many Barkley gracefully carried over 250 pounds of weight around the court, moving with the agility of a much smaller man while throwing around his weight in ways that taller players simply could not handle.

He was used to carrying as much as 272 pounds around back in his college days, and while his body shape fluctuated, it never seemed to matter much.

The explosiveness, the physicality, the attitude, and the talent of “Sir Charles” never wavered.




In the rarely seen clip below, Barkley rattles the rim against the Seattle Supersonics in Game Five of the 1993 Western Conference Finals.

Barkley would top his career high during the game, notching 43 points before topping it yet again in a decisive 44-point Game 7 performance.

These were the days when the debate was between Barkley and Michael Jordan for best player in the game, and with talent this you can see why:

Barkley topped his playoff career high again the following season with 56 points against Chris Mullin, Latrell Sprewell and Chris Webber in the 1994 playoffs.

He may never have made it to the NBA promised land, but Barkley was constantly improving, and constantly putting on a show for anybody who was willing to watch.