Do Like a bumblebee defying physics, Charles Barkley defied dunk limitations. He didn’t have the giant hands needed to palm a basketball, yet he powered through defenses and threw down monster dunks anyway. He never let limitations define him. Despite the odds, he became an 11-time NBA All-Star and earned his place in the Hall of Fame legacy. And now, his longtime friend and acclaimed sports writer Mike Sielski is opening up about the legend behind Barkley’s rise. Even Barkley himself has stepped in to share some “opinion” that fans have never heard before.

Remember Mike Sielski’s book Magic in the Air (2025)? It thoroughly talks about basketball’s evolution and cultural impact over the years. Sielski shows how the slam dunk isn’t just a flashy move on the court rather it’s a symbol of America’s changing social and cultural landscape. It’s the story of a nation and a sport shaped by raw athleticism and flair. And of course, Charles Barkley had to make the cut. Because you can’t talk about iconic dunks without mentioning the Round Mound of Rebound. Mike described Barkley as “Charles Barkley part caterpillar part Harley off-roading down the court and hammering down a two-handed slam”.

Have to admit that Mike did sum up Barkley perfectly. Sure, Barkley wasn’t the most graceful player, but he was a force of nature, unstoppable and unpredictable. Like a caterpillar, he’d wriggle through tight defenses on the court. And like a Harley, he came with raw power and grit. Barkley’s two‑handed slams announced his defiance. Barkley recalls the 2002 Slam Dunk Contest’s infamous Dunk Wheel.

 For those who don’t know, the 2002 Dunk Contest started with a twist: the infamous dunk wheel made its controversial debut. In that round, players had to replicate a classic dunk chosen randomly by spinning the wheel. Sounds fun, right? Not really. Charles Barkley didn’t hold back. He thought it was unfair, especially for two-legged jumpers or guys who dunked with both hands.

Barkley argued the wheel inherently disadvantaged one‑leg and two‑hand dunkers alike. As he said, “This is the stupidest idea ever because depending on a guy if a one-legged jumper or a two-legged jumper if they spin that stupid a– wheel and they can’t.” To explain his point further, Barkley used himself as an example.

Barkley continued, “That’s just grossly unfair because I’m a two-legged jumper. I only dunked with two hands cuz my hands are so small I couldn’t palm a basketball.” Despite insane athleticism, Barkley worked around a physical limitation most fans never even noticed. And still, he bullied his way inside.  If a Hall of Famer with 23,757 career points struggled with it, how’s a regular guy supposed to look good spinning that “stupid a– wheel”?

Charles Barkley calls out Victor Wembanyama, says NBA crown doesn’t fit his head

We all must have already witnessed a thousand times that Charles Barkley isn’t one to hold back, and this time, he’s calling out Victor Wembanyama. Barkley insists Wembanyama isn’t ready to wear the NBA crown.

With the NBA in the middle of a generational shift, people are buzzing about who’ll take the torch next. Many fans have their eyes on Wembanyama, the 21-year-old French phenom, especially after he was picked No. 1 in the 2023 NBA Draft. But Barkley? Not so fast. The Hall of Famer thinks the hype around Wembanyama is a bit premature.

Sure, the NBA has changed. Gone are the days of LeBron, Durant, and Curry dominating the Finals stage. Younger stars like Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic are making their presence felt, grabbing the spotlight. But here’s the thing: That crown? It’s not handed to you. You don’t just get to be the face of the league. As Barkley said, “I get so annoyed when I hear these guys like you don’t give somebody [that]… You don’t give anybody the face of the game. You take it.”

Barkley believes Wembanyama, despite his raw talent, isn’t quite ready to take that throne. Not yet. But what do you think?