Very few NBA superstars have walked into a team that had a couple of all-time greats already on the roster. Charles Barkley was one of the lucky few, the Philadelphia Sixers drafted him 5th overall when they still had Julius Erving and Moses Malone on the team.
Barkley learned a lot about basketball from Erving and Malone, but that’s not all he learned about. He was also advised on how to handle fame and money. He told the story of a time Erving realized that Chuck owned six cars and the life lesson he gave Barkley after finding out.
“He says, ‘Yo man, how many cars you got?’ I said, ‘I got like six.’ He says, ‘Well, how many of them can you drive at the same time? I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ He says, ‘Why do you have six cars?’ And I couldn’t give him a good answer,” Barkley said on All The Smoke.
“He said, ‘Charles, everybody knows who the f**k you are. You ain’t got to impress these people. Everybody knows you Charles Barkley.’ He said, ‘Son, take those cars back. You need one car. You wanna have two? That’s fine. But them other ones – take them back.”
“He said, ‘Son, this money gotta last you for the rest of your life. I know you think you’re gonna play basketball a long time. Basketball is gonna be this short a window of your life.’ And that was a great lesson. I tell these young guys, ‘You only need one house, and one car.”
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Charles Barkley didn’t earn more than $1 million a year until his fourth season in the NBA. The Round Mound of Rebound became one of the greatest players of his era, but his career earnings were only about $43 million. Erving’s advice to him was gold, although Charles has admitted he would routinely blow millions on gambling during his career as well.
Charles Barkley’s Biggest Contract Came Long After His Playing Days Had Ended
For many NBA players, being in the league is when their earning potential is at its highest, and they have to be careful with that money and make it last. There are many stories of players that lost it all, even legendary superstars who made lots, like Allen Iverson.
But Charles Barkley has built an incredible media career for himself following his retirement. And TNT recently gave him a deal that was reported to be well north of $100 million. Barkley making that money at this age is impressive, although he is one of the only few that has managed to do so. That advice from Erving helped more than it hurt.
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