Upon being drafted in 1984, Charles Barkley spent his first eight seasons with the Sixers. The Round Mound of Rebound quickly established himself as one of the most dominant bigs of his generation, averaging 23.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game during his time in Philly.
While he never won a championship, Barkley did make six of his 11 All-Star appearances in a Sixers uniform. Using his impressive blend of strength and hustle, Barkley was an elite rebounder, finishing 20th all-time on the NBA rebounding list.
Known for his controversy as much as his playing ability, Barkley was always at the forefront of the national conversation — something he has continued during his time with the TNT broadcasting crew.
Just one year after being traded to the Phoenix Suns, Barkley was named the league MVP in 1993. In the same vein as Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon, not many big men dominated to the extent that Barkley did.
Even if some of his biggest career accomplishments came post-Sixers, it’s impossible to place him any lower than this. He’s widely regarded as one of the 50 greatest players of all-time.