Charles Barkley has no regrets about his career. To date, everyone remembers him as one of the best basketball players, even if some criticize his legacy for the lack of championships. However, had a few things been different, and certain strings pulled, he might have added a championship ring to his already remarkable resume. Reflecting on his time with the 76ers, Sir Charles recounted how the franchise didn’t draft Shaquille O’Neal in 1992.

A team with both powerhouses would have been formidable. “I told them to go out and get me Shaq, and they got me Charles Shackelford. I’m like, are you kidding me? You can’t trade, bro,” Barkley said on The Mike Missanelli Show. The Orlando Magic drafted O’Neal as the first overall pick.

This was when Barkley lost his patience and wanted to leave the franchise. When asked about his connection to Philadelphia, Barkley responded that his Philly fans still love and admire him, as they know it was the 76ers’ fault. “People are great. They’ve always treated me great. They realized the Sixers were a crap organization that screwed up my career not drafting Brad Daugherty,” Chuck said.

There were other instances that infuriated him. He was already disappointed by the team’s lack of effort to keep Rick Mahorn. He was visibly upset when Moses Malone was traded. All these factors prevented him from achieving that elusive championship with the 76ers. 

In a recent interview on the Bill Simmons podcast, Barkley revealed another factor that derailed his career. The Philadelphia 76ers traded Brad Daugherty. He emphasized this point once again in his recent interview.

Charles Barkley was upset with the 76ers

Looking back at his NBA career, one cannot deny that several factors didn’t go Chuck’s way. In 1992, Philadelphia traded him to the Phoenix Suns to cash in for what was already inevitable. The forward had already stated his wish to get out of the franchise. Hence, instead of losing him for nothing, the 76ers traded him for three players. On July 17, 1992, Tim Perry, Jeff Hornacek, and Andrew Lang took place for the 11x NBA All Star. But Chuck, being Chuck, wasn’t going to leave quietly.

He publicly called out the franchise for their lack of effort in pushing and helping the players win. “(The 76ers) are like 70 percent of the franchises in sports. They’re just trying to make money. They’re not trying to win. They just want a mediocre ballclub. I couldn’t have stayed there. I wouldn’t have,” the Phoenix Suns legend told the Chicago Tribune.

Of course, the desert was not his desired destination either. However, it was a team brimming with potential. They had won 53 games in the 1991-92 season. It was a golden opportunity for Barkley, who led the Suns to the Finals that season and even won the MVP award. Unfortunately, Phoenix could not get the better of the San Antonio Spurs. Despite bejeweling his resume with multiple accolades, the Hall of Famer could not grab a championship title, ending his professional career in the 2000s as a part of the Houston Rockets.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.