Media updates at times can be filled with negativity, but Charles Barkley is now seeing beyond that. Amid the preparations for the final season of Inside the NBA, the former NBA star recently took time to celebrate something outside the world of sports—the Boys & Girls Club. Barkley was in Atlanta to attend the organization’s National Youth of the Year celebration.

If you’re not familiar, this event shines a spotlight on six remarkable young people from across the country. Finalists for the prestigious title of National Youth of the Year are sponsored by Kohl’s and Toyota North America. Barkley got to know them personally at the Kohl’s Gifting Suite, and it left quite an impression on him.

“It’s amazing because we hear so much bad about kids,” Chuck said, as per an article by On3. He further highlighted how news feeds, filled with negativity, can make it easy to forget all the good happening out there. But events like this remind us that there are young people doing incredible things. They’re smart, they’re energetic, and they’re the future, the former Philadelphia 76ers star emphasized.

His enthusiasm for the Boys & Girls Club is clear, but what really stands out is his humility. He calls his involvement “a small little part”. But we all know the impact of someone like Charles Barkley showing up and lending his voice to these efforts.

It’s huge, and he knows it. “I got grandkids now… I’m an old geezer, but to see these young kids, man, it’s inspiring. If you’re not inspired by these kids, there’s something wrong with you,” he said. Charles Barkley may be known for his fierce basketball skills and bold personality. But during his appearance on David Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, we saw a whole new side of him: grandpa Charles.

More on Charles Barkley’s bond with his grandkids: the young influence in his life

“Outta all the stuff that’s happening in my life, little Henry and little Charlie… being a grandpa is the greatest thing,” Chuck said on the show. If you’re a grandparent, you know the feeling. That joy of holding your grandkids, watching them grow, and just soaking in the moment. But as Barkley humorously noted, those peaceful moments don’t last forever.

For three months, Barkley’s routine was pretty simple—he’d lay back, have little Henry on his arm, and maybe even enjoy a beer in the other hand. But then, like all toddlers do, Henry learned to walk.

“And all hell broke loose,” Barkley joked. It’s clear that he has an immense amount of love for his grandkids. So it’s only natural to find and hope for more positivity among the kids nowadays. A sentiment that reflected after his recent visit to the Boys & Girls Club.

Stay tuned for more updates. 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.