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When it comes to NBA legends who speak their minds without filter, Charles Barkley sits firmly at the top of the list. Yet, beneath his boisterous TV persona lies a deep appreciation for the camaraderie that defined his Hall of Fame career and status.
Throughout his 16-year NBA career, Sir Charles shared the hardwood and the locker room with a wide array of talented players. His NBA journey was long and colorful, and because of that, it was impossible for Barkley to name only one of his greatest teammates he has ever played with.
Instead, Chuck singled out three specific names as his all-time favorite teammates: Derek Smith, Rick Mahorn and Dan Majerle. While none of these players matched Barkley's MVP accolades, he formed a great bond and synergy with each of them.
"It can't be just one," the 1993 league MVP told Medium. "I played 16 years, there were really, really good guys. Most guys are really good guys. Derek Smith was awesome. Rick Mahorn was my best friend, Dan Majerle."
Chuck's most important teammate
The connection that Barkley developed with Smith, Mahorn and Majerle spanned different eras of his career. He found a kindred spirit in Derek, who shared his fierce competitive drive early in his career with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Later on, the Sixers acquired Mahorn, with whom Barkley got along well both on and off the court. Together, Chuck and Rick formed the "Thump and Bump" duo, terrorizing opponents in the paint with their physical style and common love for psychological warfare.
When Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 1992, he teamed up with Majerle, and the two instantly clicked. Their chemistry helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals in their very first season as teammates.
While Smith, Mahorn and Majerle were Barkley's personal picks, he credits the legendary Moses Malone as the most impactful player he ever met in his career. Sensing his untapped potential, Malone took him under his wing and helped him become the best version of himself as a professional and an individual.
"The most important person for me in basketball was Moses Malone," Chuck revealed. "He said I was fat and lazy. I was 295 pounds and he made me lose 50 pounds. He pushed me to become great. We met every day."
Chuck was a great teammate too
Even though Barkley was famous for being an individual superstar, most of his former teammates also view him as a modest and sensible leader. According to former Suns big man Joe Kleine, Chuck would stick up for his teammates, but more importantly, he was humble in his own right.
Admittedly, though, Kleine couldn't really find the right words to describe a player and teammate like Barkley.
"For being a superstar, he was probably the most accessible," Kleine once told Suns.com. "I don't want to say normal, because normal's not the right word for Charles. For being a superstar, he was very approachable. He was team-first guy. He wanted to win and that was his motivation. I came to respect that from him."
All told, Barkley's reflections on his teammates offer a nostalgic window into his human side as a player. Moreover, it's equally fascinating to discover that Chuck himself was a great teammate.
