Duke, Florida, Auburn, Houston punch their ticket to the Final Four
The madness continues as Mackenzie Salmon previews the Men’s Final Four matchups, which will feature all No. 1 seeds for the first time since 2008.
Sports Seriously
Charles Barkley said earlier this year he chose to play for Auburn basketball because “they sucked.”
Barkley will be rooting for the Tigers to not suck this weekend during the Final Four of the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament. On Saturday in San Antonio, Texas, he will appear on the CBS halftime show when the No. 1 overall seeded Tigers will take on No. 1 Florida for a chance at the school’s first national championship game appearance.
The NBA Hall of Famer played for the Tigers from 1981-84, guiding Auburn to its first NCAA Tournament in 1984. Part of the allure of attending Auburn was the lack of success for the program before his attendance for the Alabama native.
“I ain’t gonna lie, I picked Auburn because they sucked,” Barkley said earlier this year. “I wanted to get to play. Alabama had a great program with Wimp Sanderson. UAB with Gene Bartow.
Here’s what you need to know about where Barkley went to college, where he’s from and more:
Did Charles Barkley attend Auburn?
Yes, Barkley attended Auburn from 1981 to 84 under coach Sonny Smith. Before his arrival, Auburn had suffered three straight losing seasons and had never made it to the NCAA Tournament.
In his freshman season, the Tigers posted a 14-14 record, with Barkley who averaged 12.7 points on 59.5% shooting, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.1 assists, and 0.5 steals per game in 28 games, including 23 starts.
As a sophomore, he guided the team to a 15-13 record, the program’s first winning record in six seasons. He scored 14.4 points on 64.4% shooting, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game and started in all 28 games for the Tigers.
Barkley’s junior season was the major breakthrough for the program. For the third time in program history, the Tigers won 20 games in a season and earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, No. 12 Richmond knocked out Barkley and Auburn from the tournament in the first round despite Barkley’s stat-stuffing performance, which included 23 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.
He averaged 15.1 points on 63.8% shooting, 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 28 games, including 18 starts as a junior. Following the season, he declared for the NBA Draft.
Charles Barkley NBA draft
Two picks after the Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan, Barkley was selected No. 5 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1984 NBA draft. Barkley joined a 76ers team that included veterans Julius Erving, Moses Malone and Maurice Cheeks. The trio had led Philadelphia to the 1983 NBA championship.
Barkley won the 1993 MVP award the same year he led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals. He also made the NBA All-Star game 11 times, including the 1991 All-Star Game MVP honors. He played for Philadelphia (1984-92), the Suns (1992-96) and the Houston Rockets (1996-2000). He won gold medals with Team USA in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. Per Spotrac.com, Barkley made $40.6 million during his NBA playing career.
Where is Charles Barkley from?
Barkley was born in Leeds, Alabama, on Feb. 20, 1963. Leeds is an eastern suburb of Birmingham. At the time of Barkley’s birth, he was the first black baby delivered in the segregated town hospital. He played high school basketball at Leeds High School.
Charles Barkley stats at Auburn
Here’s a look at Barkley’s stats during his three seasons with the Tigers:
- 1981-82: 12.7 points on 59.5% shooting, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.1 assists and 0.5 steals per game in 28 games (23 starts)
- 1982-83: 14.4 points on 64.4% shooting, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 28 games (28 starts)
- 1983-84: 15.1 points on 63.8% sooting, 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 28 games (18 starts)