Sir Charles had a revolutionary impact in Philadelphia. He transformed from the 5th overall pick in 1984 to one of the most dominant forces in NBA history. Moreover ‘The Round Mound of Rebound’s’ dominance in Philadelphia 76ers wasn’t just about numbers but it was about redefining what a 6’6″ power forward could achieve in an era of giants. Now despite earning six All-Star selections and five All-NBA Team honors, a former NBA star has made a bold claim saying he would have done better if he had been on his team.

During the recent episode of the Gils Arena podcast, Kenyon Martin discussed the Philadelphia 76ers team when Charles Barkley was in it. But Gilbert Arenas added some spice to the statement that has made waves in the NBA community. “I think I would average more than Chuck, if I was on that team. I averaged 29 and I had teammates that averaged 20 and 19 on the team,” said Arenas during the podcast. But when Brandon Jennings added if Arenas would have won the Finals, the 42-year-old was quick to dismiss it by saying, “Woah, Relax.”

If we look at the numbers, in his eight seasons with the 76ers, Barkley was a 6x All-Star, picked to five All-NBA teams, and averaged 23.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. While all of his seasons were good, the 1988-89 season was particularly special as he scored his career-best averages of 25.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and shot 57.9% from the field.

Moreover, Barkley’s accomplishments were even more impressive considering he was able to excel while being well outside the average NBA player size. The power forward, at that time, was uniquely strong, agile, and explosive leaper in a league that was dominated by towering big men like Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon. However, Barkley managed to outrebound every one of them. With the 76ers against the Brooklyn Nets in the 1991-92 season, he scored the most rebounds of 22.

Moreover, Barkley’s effect was not just individual statistics.

He also led the 76ers to six straight playoff appearances from 1985 to 1991, including three playoff series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In 1989-90, Philadelphia won 53 games led by Barkley, who averaged 25.2 points and 11.5 rebounds, finishing second in MVP voting to Magic Johnson.No doubt Arenas was a gifted scorer, having averaged 20.7 points per game for his career, but his assertion becomes pale when it comes to measuring Barkley’s impact in the game. Barkley’s Philadelphia legacy, backed by statistical dominance and revolutionary impact, stands as a testament to his unique greatness in NBA history. However, this isn’t the only jab that Arenas has taken on Barkley.

Gilbert Arenas confessed his feelings for Charles Barkley

The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns were heavily criticized after getting bounced in the first round for the playoffs during the 2023-24 season. While everyone blamed the team management for their poor decisions, Barkley stated that the players should take responsibility. “Anybody who thinks the reason the Lakers suck is because of Darvin Ham or the reason the Suns suck is because of Frank Vogel, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Barkley at that time.

However, Arenas had a different narrative in mind as he was on the side of the fans who were blaming the decisions of the management and the coaches. “I don’t like him. I just don’t like how he talks about whose fault it is because when he was playing he didn’t take no responsibility for what was going on with him, right?… Whose fault was it when they went 41-41 and he needed to leave to try to win a championship? Then when he got to Houston, the team that won the championship, who was out of shape?… where was the responsibility then? I hate when you get to a certain stage and start throwing shots when you were a problem yourself when you played,” said Arenas during that time.

Since then, there have been numerous instances when Arenas had called out Barkley on his podcast and Barkley had done the same in his candid interviews. As both players continue to make their mark in the sports media landscape, it remains to be seen whether their feud will further intensify or eventually be resolved.