"Thank goodness, the Sixers are not going to draft me" - When Charles Barkley had 'two Grand Slam' breakfasts to avoid a $75,000 salary
During the ‘80s, a $75,000 annual salary for playing basketball would have been gladly accepted by most, but Charles Barkley proved to be a different kind of player.
Contrary to expectations, the former No. 5 pick wasn’t content when reports surfaced that the Philadelphia 76ers could only provide him with a one-year contract due to salary cap constraints. Responding unconventionally, the Auburn prospect shifted his focus to a unique strategy: ‘eating as much as possible’ in a desperate attempt to discourage the Sixers from selecting him in the draft.
Charles Barkley on simply hogging food
While getting drafted into the NBA is monumental for most players, Barkley was busy rebelling in a memorable way. The 1993 MVP deliberately took a fork and knife in hand to pack on as much weight as possible by feasting on food. For those unaware, this decision was a direct response to the 76ers’ early directive, urging him to trim down his weight before entering the league.
"We went to Denny's, and I had like two Grand Slam breakfasts. We went to lunch, and I had like two big barbeque sandwiches. That night we went to a big steakhouse. The next morning, I had two more Grand Slam breakfasts, and when we flew to Philly, I weighed 302," Barkley said. "I was like, Thank goodness, the Sixers are not going to draft me."
While the Sixers remained steadfast in their determination to draft ‘The Round Mound of Rebound’ in 1984, Barkley mentioned that as he walked up to the stage, people were thoroughly convinced that he wasn’t happy with his name being called out.
Barkley wanted to part ways with the Sixers
Sir Charles’ journey with the team wasn’t only marked by mixed sentiments during his entrance; even as he bid farewell to Philly after eight seasons, he had no doubts. Moreover, as he moved to the Phoenix Suns in his prime without being able to lead the 76ers to any success, Barkley had no regrets.
"Our team was just not good enough; we made too many changes," Barkley said in a post-game interview back in 1992. "Our chemistry was not there, and everybody was not on the same page."
Safe to say, Chuckster’s statements serve as a reminder that achieving a Hall of Fame career doesn’t necessarily ensure a universally positive impact on every franchise a player has been associated with.
