“We were crawling for 100-200 yards…” Charles Barkley involved in ‘police-chase’ in childhood that made him pick up sports

Charles Barkley picked up the game of basketball pretty quickly.

“We were crawling for 100-200 yards…” Charles Barkley involved in ‘police-chase’ in childhood that made him pick up sports

Charles Barkley

NBA legend and Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley didn’t exactly play basketball since a very young age. Barkley was, what today’s generation would consider, a late bloomer. Chuck first played basketball in his sophomore year in high school. While he went on to become one of the best players the game had ever seen in his time, there was a lot that led to him participating in sports.

In the recent episode of Club Shay Shay podcast with Shannon Sharpe, Barkley revealed his childhood stories. As an early teen, Chuck was quite hefty, weighing over 220 pounds at just 5-foot-10. Not only that, Barkley’s mother and his grandmother worked hard to provide for him while he was a teen.

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So I had started stealing. And one night the cops chased us. That was the closest we all got to getting arrested and I remember when I was crawling on the ground in the woods cause they chased us... And I remember I had dirt everywhere and scars everywhere and I was like 'Damn my mother and grandmother working their a** off every day and you out here being a crook'. And then that's when I said you know what I got to give these ladies the love and the respect they deserve. So then I said you know what 'I'm going to just play sports.'
Charles Barkley said

His decision as a young teen brought him all the fame he has today. From being an unhealthy kid in high school, Charles Barkley went on to pick up basketball pretty well. By his junior year, Barkley was 6-foot-4 and led his school to the state semi-finals. However, Barkley was still not receiving any letters from major schools.

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Charles Barkley’s basketball career changed after this one game in his senior year

Going into his senior year, Barkley was a pretty good player, however, at the time, he was considered an undersized for the forward position. However, during a Christmas tournament in his senior year, Barkley faced the best high school player in Alabama, Bobby Lee Hurt. The short and slow forward put up 24 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 blocks in front of a packed crowd.

In the audience was the assistant head coach of the Auburn Tigers. Chuck received an offer from the Tigers, as he would then commit to the university after his graduation. He would go on to spend three years with the Tigers after which the Philadelphia 76ers would draft him as the fifth pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.

With what started as just playing sports, Barkley soon became one of the most well-recognized athletes in the States. Barkley is an inspiration for younger athletes who are looking to get on the field and start their careers in their favorite sport.

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