Charles Barkley

Enshrined: 2006
Born: February 20, 1963
Leeds, AL

A relentless and undersized power forward, Charles Barkley outplayed, outperformed, and outclassed opponents who regularly stood more than half a foot taller than him. His larger-than-life personality made Barkley one of the game's greatest characters while his hardnosed style of play made him pound-for-pound and inch-for-inch one of the game's greatest rebounders. Listed at 6'6" and 250 lbs, but in truth closer to 6'4", Barkley is the shortest player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding, averaging 14.6 rebounds per game during the 1986-87 season. He was capable of controlling the defensive rebound and dribbling the length of the court for a ferocious finish at the rim. The 11-time NBA All Star is one of only four players to record more than 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists in a career. In 1993, Barkley was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player and was the catalyst for a Phoenix Suns team that recorded the best record in the league and advanced to the NBA Finals.