One Final Game: Charles Barkley
Date: December 6th, 1999
The man with a million nicknames — Sir Charles and “The Round Mount of Rebound” being the best — was an absolute force on the basketball court. Despite being generously listed at 6’6″ he was nearly unstoppable inside, scoring and rebounding no matter the competition. Then when the games ended he made sure to find ways to enjoy himself until he was back on the court.
Despite both his size and his love of all things indulgent, Barkley played 16 seasons in the league, although the last few were certainly plagued by injuries. Even so he stayed effective, averaging 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in his final season.
Most of that final season was cut shots due to injury (he made it back onto the court in the final game of the season for just six months), so effectively his last game as an impactful player came in early December of 1999. Barkley played 37 minutes in a close game against the Vancouver Grizzlies, dropping one final monster stat line: 25 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and a victory.
Barkley would get hurt the following game and retire at the end of the season, moving on to become one of the most entertaining sports analysts in the business. For one last night, though, Sir Charles mounted his steed and mowed down the competition.