Los Angeles (AFP)
The Philadelphia 76ers unveiled on Friday a statue of former star Charles Barkley, one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, in front of the franchise's training center in Camden, New Jersey. .
"I do not think I'm so thin," 56-year-old Barkley joked about the statue depicting him on the verge of dunking with both hands, one of his signatures.
Strong winger, drafted in 1984 by Philadelphia, "Sir Charles" also nicknamed "Baby TGV" was an imposing size of the time he played, measuring 1.98 m and weighing 114 kg. An impressive physique, sometimes overweight, he put in the service of rebounds and cons, without forgetting to perform offensively (22.1 career average).
Troubled in his character, Barkley was named best league player in 1993, the only year he reached the NBA finals, with Phoenix, beaten by Chicago and one of his best friends, Michael Jordan.
Together they were among the spearheads of the "Dream Team", which made the world discover basketball "made in NBA" by being crowned at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992.
Also winner at the Atlanta Olympics (1996), Barkley, 11 times selected for the All-Star Game, has become after sixteen professional seasons one of the most popular commentators of the sport on American television.
His statue sits on the Sixers' Legends Walk alongside other legends in Philadelphia: Billy Cunningham, Wilt Chamberlain, Maurice Cheeks, Julius Erving, Hal Greer and Bobby Jones.
© 2019 AFP