Charles Barkley considers only 3 NBA legends as flawless: “Michael, Kobe and LeBron, those three guys, and, oh, that's a perfect player right there”
Charles Barkley has had the opportunity to see some of the NBA's top talents over the years. He played for 16 years and was considered one of the game's greatest forwards.
After his days on the hardwood, Barkley has stayed close to basketball. As an analyst on TNT's "Inside the NBA," Barkley has seen waves of talent come through the league. He's always been open about players who have gotten his attention as some of the elite talents.
As a Hall of Famer, he knows something about the game's top players. That's why Barkley has had so much respect for a couple of legends. Speaking recently on "The Steam Room" podcast, Barkley shared his thoughts about which players he believes are "flawless:" Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
"I don't want to leave anybody else out, because Kareem's (Abdul-Jabbar) in that situation. He's an all-time great. Bill Russell, rest in peace, is an all-time great, but I never looked at him as a guy going to get me 20 points a night. I don't think he was a great offensive player. He's a great winner, rebounder, defender.
"But Michael, Kobe, LeBron, those three guys that I've came to close and says, 'Oh, that's a perfect player right there."
Legends with whom Charles Barkley has played during his career
Charles Bakley had the opportunity to play alongside some of the top legends in the game.
Barkley was originally drafted in 1984 by the Philadelphia 76ers. That meant the opportunity to play alongside two Hall of Famers in Julius Erving and Moses Malone. Barkley was named to the 1984-85 All-Rookie team after averaging 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds in 28.6 minutes per game. The 76ers lost in the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics that year.
Erving was the driving force of that Sixers team. During that season, Erving posted averages of 20.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 3.0 assists per game. Malone averaged an eye-opening 24.6 ppg and 13.1 rpg.
After being traded to the Phoenix Suns, Charles Barkley's career blossomed as he became a superstar. During his four seasons with the Suns, Barkley averaged 23.4 ppg, 11.5 rpg and 4.4 apg.
At his next stop, with the Houston Rockets, Barkley played with another slate of superstars, stepping in alongside another pair of Hall of Famers in Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. In his first season with Houston, Barkley averaged 19.2 ppg, 13.5 rpg and 4.7 apg.
"The best game I ever played."
28 YEARS AGO TODAY: Charles Barkley went off for 44 PTS & 24 REBS in a controversial WCF GM7!
100 free throws were taken
Suns: 57-64
Sonics: 28-36
https://t.co/MD5f8gLJne
During that season, Barkley's teammates put up impressive numbers as well. Olajuwon, one of the greatest centers in NBA history, averaged 23.2 ppg and 9.2 rpg. Drexler averaged 18.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 5.7 apg.
After Drexler retired, the Rockets acquired Scottie Pippen, giving Barkley the chance to play with another Hall of Famer.
Despite playing with legendary talent, Barkley never won an NBA championship.