There are many things taken into consideration when a player’s legacy is defined in the NBA. From having insane athleticism to the ability to shoot the basketball well, there are many ways that a player can be considered a legend in the league.
But if you truly want to be regarded as a legend of the game, having an NBA Championship on the resume always helps. There have been many great players in the league who have had amazing careers in the league but failed to win a ring. Thus, their legacies in the NBA have sort of taken a hit in the eyes of the media and fans.
One such player is none other than NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. Chuck was a great player during his prime and has many accolades to his name. Unfortunately, Barkley failed to lead any of his teams to an NBA Championship during his career. Even today, he is destroyed by many former and current NBA players for not winning a ring.
Chuck usually laughs off about it now, but deep down, he must feel sad about never winning a ring. Well, that’s the current scenario. During his playing days, Barkley once gave a befitting reply to this question in an interview. In the interview, he gave a sarcastic response to the fact that he, Karl Malone, and Patrick Ewing never won a ring in their respective careers.
“I was sitting in my room quiet the other night because they were doing the ‘The Special’ on me, Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing, about how our lives are so miserable and incomplete because we never won a championship. If you tell people, it’s not the most important thing they say you are defensive, and you’re lying. I love that everybody tells me what I’m thinking and what I’m feeling. I just want everybody out there knows I’m going to be alright if we don’t win a championship. I’m not going to become like a mass murderer. I’m not going to cut my wrists; I’m not gonna jump off a building in downtown Houston. I think me, Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing will be fine.”
This was a hilarious way to address the people who thought that not winning an NBA Championship made the lives of Barkley, Malone, and Ewing miserable.
At the end of the day, winning an NBA Championship certainly helps a player improve his legacy in the league. But even if they don’t win a title, it’s not the end of the world. There are many other ways to make sure that fans remember their time in the NBA.
