Charles Barkley - 1996 NBC Interview (Inevitable Decline, Winning a Ring, Moving On)

"I can feel a gradual decline in my ability. But I think every year it gets a little worse and then one year it's going to be really bad. I feel like this year I played very well but I know I'm closer to the end. Basketball has given me everything in my life. It made me rich, it's made me famous, it's taken care of my family from now and hopefully for the future. So I would never want to do anything to embarrass it if I just keep playing for the money."
Aired on April 28, 1996, just prior to Game 2 between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, Charles Barkley sat down with NBC's Jim Gray to discuss the present and the future, covering a range of vulnerable topics, included but not limited to the decline of his playing abilities, his stance on winning a championship, and the chances of his moving on from the Suns.
Following the Suns' first round exit, Barkley did indeed move on from Phoenix, becoming a member of the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster trade that sent Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, Chucky Brown, and Mark Bryant to the Suns.
Link to Barkley Trade News: www.washington...

[@chrisbuchanan60]

Despite not winning a ring, Charles Barkley was still THAT GUY.!

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Still is right?

[@LundenMaxwell-it4yu]

Interviews were so much different back then

[@TheWriterNW]

Charles is great. Always has been. Always will be.

[@CliffPierson777]

Good questions by Jim Grey, good answers by Charles Barkley. Now these current players cry about their feelings on ig and Twitter.

[@Doknot-tb9ey]

Its annoying when the players express their feelings on social media.

[@charlesconner9044]

Surprisingly Chuck didn't mention San Antonio's big ol women during this interview 😂😂

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

He wouldn't have had a tuff time at this point

[@AndrewsOpinion15]

happy 60th birthday charles wade barkley !!!

[@edwardmichael8337]

Stay loyal Charles. Don’t leave your.m team. Stick it out and go through the struggle with the suns.. oh wait!

[@williamjubi]

They traded him to Houston, he's said on multiple interviews he didn't want to leave. He agreed to be dealt only after finding out the Sun's front office lied to him.

[@NickIntoTech]

Fast forward about 25 years, the Suns have made it to the finals

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Barkley is going to hurt me if he reads this

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Barkley is actually whining here but in an interview face to face the complaining is more eloquent thought thru and doesn't come off poorly

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Barkley lied

[@motorsportfan1246]

Blame Suns front office for trading him