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Houston Rockets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Rockets

By Phil Watson

Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; General view inside Toyota Center before game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; General view inside Toyota Center before game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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INGLEWOOD, UNITED STATES: Houston Rockets Charles Barkley(L) pushes his way to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers Dennis Rodman(R) at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood CA, 28 February. The Lakers won 106-90. (GERARD BURKHART/AFP/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, UNITED STATES: Houston Rockets Charles Barkley(L) pushes his way to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers Dennis Rodman(R) at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood CA, 28 February. The Lakers won 106-90. (GERARD BURKHART/AFP/Getty Images) /

Charles Barkley. 6. player. 169. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Phoenix Suns, Aug. 19, 1996.. PF. 1996-2000

The Houston Rockets were looking for another veteran to make a title push when they acquired former MVP Charles Barkley and a second-round pick in 1999 from the Phoenix Suns in August 1996 in exchange for Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, Mark Bryant and Chucky Brown.

Barkley wasn’t able to push the Rockets back over the top, but was an All-Star in 1997 and finished second in the NBA in rebounding in 1998-99.

HOU_06_BARKLEY
HOU_06_BARKLEY /

He retired in April 2000 after returning from a ruptured quadriceps tendon for a single game.

In four seasons in Houston, Barkley averaged 16.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 35 minutes per game, shooting .482/.253/.712.

Barkley was the fifth overall pick out of Auburn by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1984 NBA Draft and was an All-Rookie selection in 1984-85, going on to earn six All-Star berths and seven All-NBA selections for the 76ers. He also led the NBA in rebounding in 1986-87.

Traded to Phoenix in June 1992, Barkley was the NBA MVP in 1992-93 and was a four-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection with the Suns.

He is 35th in NBA history with 39,330 minutes played, 18th with 12,546 rebounds, 25th with 1,648 steals and 23,757 points, 24th with a field-goal percentage of .540, 32nd with an average of 36.7 minutes per game, 26th with an average of 22.1 points per game and 19th with an average of 11.7 rebounds per game.

Barkley was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Next: T-Mac Bothered By Injuries During Houston Stint

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