“He’s not going to let other people dictate what he wants” — the story of the Philadelphia 76ers drafting Charles Barkley has further confirmed Reggie Miller’s words for Chuck. But it seems sometimes it’s just beyond one’s control to change the fate of destiny. The 11x All-Star tried his best to not land in the franchise that would stick with him for the first 8 seasons of his NBA career. But why would Barkley not want to be on a team that won a championship just 2 years before his debut season?

Appearing on the Podcast with P, the 11x All-Star detailed on the reason and his plan to avoid being drafted by Philly. The plan of action, as revealed by the 11x All-Star on the podcast, was to gain weight. Chuck recalled going on an eating spree, going to Denny’s, and to the best steakhouse in Texas.

“I fly in the Philly, man. I’m like, 299. The owner of the Sixers called me every name in the book. Every name in the book, ‘You fat ****, you fella. And he put me on the train,” Barkley said. But again, why such desperation to avoid being drafted by Philly? During the podcast, Chuck revealed he weighed nearly 300 pounds ahead of the 1984 draft. And the Sixers management told him they’d only select him if he dropped to nearly 285 pounds.

The then 21-year-old spent his summer at Houston and cut down to the required weight criteria, only to come to know about the 76ers’ salary cap from his agent. And that the franchise would only offer him a one year, $75,000 contract. Charles Barkley’s first reaction to the news? “I didn’t leave college for $75,000.” He thus told his agent, “Let’s make sure the Sixers don’t draft me,” as stated by him on Podcast with P. He decided he’d gain back all the pounds before the weigh-in in New York.

What made the 76ers and Charles Barkley stick despite initial unfavorable circumstances?

Philly had issues with Chuck’s weight, and the ex-Tigers star had issues with the salary cap. But then how did the two parties still spend 8 seasons together in the league? In fact, Barkley became team’s franchise player after Julius Erving bid farewell to the game.

Well, it seems Chuck’s college stat-line featuring 14.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game was tempting enough for the franchise to draft him irrespective of his weight. As for Charles, he was still disappointed at the $75,000 offer. But he found a ray of hope in the 76ers owner telling him that his performance in the summer league could make him make some trades.

“It was in Princeton, Princeton, New Jersey. I was out there rebounding like a madman. I was running, jumping, dunking, everything,” Chuck said on Podcast with P. The Sixers ended up trading two players, while Charles Barkley signed his first contract for 4 years, $2 million. Worried about the money he’d make once, the 76ers icon ended up making $40.6 million from league earnings.

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.