Charles Barkley once told people who ask him to stop gambling to "kiss my a**, f**k 'em"
Charles Barkley has not been shy about sharing that he enjoys gambling. During a 2010 interview with GQ, the Hall of Famer shared that he had no plans to stop gambling despite losing nearly $10 million, stating:
"Yeah, I like to gamble. And I'm going to keep gambling. And I just have to tell people, if they don't like it, they can kiss my a**. F**k 'em. You know, I quit gambling for a while. But then I was like, 'Why am I quitting gambling? I don't have a problem.'"
Four years prior, Barkley had a different tone when discussing his gambling losses with ESPN, saying:
"Do I have a gambling problem? Yeah, I do have a gambling problem, but I don't consider it a problem because I can afford to gamble. It's just a stupid habit that I've got to get under control, because it's just not a good thing to be broke after all of these years.
"I gamble too much, I gamble for too much money, and it's something I have to address. I am addressing it, that would be the best way to explain it... I think the most difficult thing, No. 1, I've got to realize no matter how much I win it ain't a lot—it's only a lot when I lose. And you always lose.
"I think it's fun, I think it's exciting. I'm gonna continue to do it, but I have to get to a point where I don't try to break the casino 'cause you never can."
Barkley reversed course on the evening his interview with ESPN was released, claiming he had no plans to stop gambling. The 1992-1993 NBA MVP recently revealed that he factors gambling losses into his contract negotiations.
Charles Barkley revealed the only time he felt there was a player better than him
Leading up to the 1993 NBA Finals, Charles Barkley was confident that he was the greatest basketball player in the world. Facing Michael Jordan, however, changed Barkley's mind as he revealed in episode six of 'The Last Dance,' saying:
"In Game 2, I played as well as I could play, and Michael just outplayed me. That was probably the first time in my life that I felt like there was a better basketball player in the world than me, to be honest with you."
Charles Barkley finished with 42 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block while shooting 16-26 from the field and 10-12 from the free-throw line. Michael Jordan finished with 42 points, adding 12 rebounds, nine assists, and two steals while shooting 18-36 from the field, 2-2 from 3-point range, and 4-5 from the free-throw line.
Jordan averaged 41.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.8% from the field and 40.0% from three-point range en route to his third championship in as many seasons. Barkley averaged 27.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field.
Watch highlights of Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley's Game 2 duel in the 1993 NBA Finals below: