Charles Wade Barkley, born February 20, 1963, is a revered American former NBA star, often nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "the Round Mound of Rebound," who is now a highly successful television analyst. Despite being shorter than typical power forwards, his strength made him one of the NBA's best rebounders and scorers, earning him 11 All-Star selections, the 1993 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, and spots on the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams.

Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1984, Barkley also led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in 1993 and won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S. national team in 1992 and 1996. He retired in 2000 as one of only four players in NBA history to achieve 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists. A two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2006 for his individual career, 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team"), Barkley was known for his engaging and often controversial personality, which translated into a successful post-playing career as an award-winning analyst for TNT's Inside the NBA.