The 5th overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, Sir Charles Barkley made his imprint on the Association from the off. During his early years with the Sixers, Barkley was throwing it down on one end, rejecting shots at the other, and grabbing every loose ball on both ends of the court. An 11-time All-Star, Barkley didn’t blow anyone away with his physique; he instead used a scoring touch and a tenacious attitude down low to dominate the game. And while the 1993 league MVP was a threat at both ends of the floor, he was also a menace to opposing teams. As a sign of his fearlessness—or maybe just his stubbornness—Barkley mixed it up with the likes of Bill Laimbeer, Charles Oakley, and Shaquille O’Neal.
Dubbed The Round Mound of Rebound for his ability to bang on the boards, and, well, his portly physique, Barkley was truly a specimen to behold.
Many younger fans of the NBA know Chuck mainly for his exploits on TNT’s Inside the NBA and his outspokenness in the media, and rightfully so. Whether he’s weighing in on Rockets GM Daryl Morey or telling DeMarcus Cousins to grow up, Barkley is never one to shy away from the mic. And that’s why we love him. Today, Chuck turns 52, so from his days of getting in Jordan’s face to eating a cookie off his own face, these are Charles Barkley’s Most Dominating Performances in GIFs.