Charles Barkley’s time with Philadelphia 76ers: The story behind his statue

Barkley’s downfall in Philadelphia

In his final season as a Sixer in 1991-12, Barkley was no longer happy in Philadelphia. Management had failed to put a competitive team around him, and Charles demanded a trade. The team failed to make the playoffs for a second time during Barkley’s tenure in Philadelphia and it wouldn’t be long before Barkley was gone.

On June 17, 1992, Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang and Tim Perry. This was the beginning of dark times for the Sixers, with their only star gone. Charles Barkley, however, was quick to find success with his new team. Barkley won season MVP the year after he was traded and made the NBA Finals. There was one man who kept stopping Barkley in his tracks, and it was Michael Jordan once again, and he averaged 41 points in that six-game series.

After hearing Michael Jordan was announcing his retirement, the time to win a championship couldn’t had been better for Barkley. This time around, another man within the same draft class was in his tracks. The No. 1 overall pick of the 1984 draft, Hakeem Olajuwon. Barkley lost back-to-back seven game series to Olajuwon and the Rockets in 1994 and 1995.

Barkley would end up leaving the Suns in 1996, and a chance for another title shot just wasn’t the same, especially with Jordan’s return.