Charles Barkley Spills the Beans on 40YO Olympics Snub as Bitter Memories Resurface: “Bobby Knight Didn’t Like Me”

While there are no NBA championships to his name, Charles Barkley won 2 Olympic gold medals. He was a critical part of arguably the greatest team ever assembled, the 1992 Dream Team. However, if he had his way, he could have had at least one more gold. Notably, Barkley was also among the contenders for the 1984 US Men’s Basketball Olympics roster. At the time, only college players were selected due to FIBA rules. But Barkley still did not make it to the team, and 40 years later, the ex-Philadelphia 76ers star has shared the reason behind it.

During his Netflix special, David Letterman brought up the discussion regarding Barkley’s first Olympics snub and asked if it broke his heart. “Yes, because I should’ve made it to the team… Bobby Knight did not like me. Rest in peace,” Chuck said on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. He also clarified he has never said a bad word about the HOF coach. “Publicly,” he hilariously added.

Letterman further asked Barkley the reason he believes that did not let him make it to the team. “I think he went into it with a perception of how I was as a player,” the former 76ers star replied. However, Barkley, who had just finished his junior year at Auburn University, mentioned even though he did not make it to the team, the whole selection process helped him as a player.

Notably, the selection committee invited the top 120 players in the country for the selection process, and the number kept on decreasing at every stage, as stated by Chuck. “Really helped my confidence to play against those guys,” Barkley said on the show. The Chuckster made it to the final round as one of the final 20 candidates. However, he was cut at the last stage along with future NBA legend John Stockton and two others.

The 1984 US Men’s Basketball Olympics roster included Steve Alford, Patrick Ewing, Vern Fleming, Michael Jordan, Joe Kleine, Jon Koncak, Chris Mullin, Sam Perkins, Alvin Robertson, Wayman Tisdale, Jeff Turner, and Leon Wood. They easily won the gold medal in California. However, what was the primary reason behind Barkley’s exclusion from the team?

Coach Bobby Knight on Charles Barkley not making the Olympics team

Some reports suggest the coach had an issue with Chuck’s occasional tardiness and a seemingly late-back attitude in practice sessions. However, as per the Chicago Tribune, the primary reason was Barkley’s defensive shortcomings.

“He’s got to become a much better defensive player. He has to work at sharpening what he does. If he can, he has an excellent chance,” Knight said as per the Chicago Tribune. “If he can’t, he’s not going to make the team,” he added. Barkley may now have softened his stance on his opinion of Knight since he is no longer in this world. But this was not always the scenario.

The 11x NBA All-Star had once accused the HOF coach of having a hidden agenda against him. “Because I was the second-best player there, I kinda felt like he didn’t want me there… He didn’t want me on the team. It was a joke,” he had said. However, Charles Barkley made it to the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, and secured gold in both instances.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.