“Now This Is Art”: Flood Gates of Flirtatious Intentions Open as Decades Old Image of Shirtless Charles Barkley Hits the Internet

Charles Barkley is good at a few things besides shooting hoops. He is witty and funny, something essential for a sportscaster. He’s firm in the stands he takes, advocates for several social reforms, and is a philanthropist. He’s even the sappiest grandfather we know. But one Instagram page chose to remind us that Sir Charles could also make you swoon back in the day.

The Round Mound of Rebound retired from the NBA in 2000. While the league lists him as 6’6″, Barkley himself said he’s closer to 6’4″. Though not the tallest of NBA pros, he dominated some Titans in his prime. Basketball-themed Instagram page, NBDaily recently threw it back to when Chuck was still an active player.

Young Charles Barkley sends fans into a tizzy

Charles Barkley is living his granddad-bod phase. It’s perfectly fine, fans still love him. But there was also an era when Sir Charles could give models a run for their money. NBDaily threw it back to that glorious period and fans are floored.

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Barkley played in the NBA from 1984 to 2000. This suave throwback does give a glimpse of the late ’80s style you could catch a few NBA stars in off the court at that time. Barkley is only in a pair of lounge pants and a fedora, leaning on a dresser to have a staredown with himself in the mirror. Don’t we all just look that attractive on a day off in our at-home joggers?

Nah! That’s why fans were camping in the comments with awe. The page knew the effect this pic would have on everyone. And they rightfully accepted appreciation by commenting “You’re welcome” under the same post.

“Needed this photo W to the guy who asked,” one commenter responded.

“What the Chuck?” We always love a good pun.

“Michael Jackson if he never switched teams.” That fedora does give us King of Pop feels.

“Now this is art.” We agree.

“My dawg Chuck.” Ditto.

These are just some of the tamer reactions under that post. And let’s not even get into the emojis. If Instagram existed back in the day, Charles Barkley would be one big thirst trap. If he was interested in social media, that is.

Barkley stays off social media

Chuck and his wife, Maureen Blumhardt, are parents to Christiana Barkley. Their daughter has a son, Henry, and recently welcomed their daughter, Charlie. She’s, of course, named after her grandfather.

After retiring from the NBA, Barkley has become a doting granddad. But the only place he’ll show off his precious family moments is his old Facebook page. He’s not going to be posting throwbacks from his NBA days on any social media page any time soon.

He’s turned to a broadcasting career and talking smack to Shaquille O’Neal’s face on Inside the NBA. He’s going to stick to that platform instead of social media. He declared that social media is for “losers” and he stays away from the negativity.

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To Chuck his own. But his fans are still going to go crazy over him. What was your reaction to that Young Barkley picture?