It was early December 1999. Charles Barkley stared down at his knee wrapped in ice and sighed, “It’s over.” Injuries have always been the cruelest part of sports, cutting short the careers of many rising stars. And for Barkley, it was no different. The injury he suffered that night ended his remarkable career. But, two decades later, Barkley found himself inspired again, this time by an unnamed college football player who kept playing despite four devastating, season-ending injuries.

In a recent episode of Inside the NBA, where Barkley sat back alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal. As the conversation shifted to injuries, Chuck shared the story of that same unnamed football player. “I was watching college football about a month ago,” he began. “And there was a really great story about a football player who’s in his seventh or eighth year, and he had four season-ending injuries. That kid inspired me.” 

But overcoming injuries wasn’t all that touched Chuck. He reveals that the said player was criticized for being old, but he just kept going with the right support. “He says, ‘you know, people make fun of me. They call me grandpa around here because I’m old’. But he had four season-ending injuries, and he said, ‘my mom told me to just keep grinding,” the Philadelphia 76ers star narrated.

But for Charles Barkley, injuries were more than just a setback— one ended his career. The Round Mound of Rebound dominated the league, winning the 1993 MVP and putting up fights against his opponents every night. So, when he retired in 2000, at age 36, it came as a shock to many. And that had its irony too.

In December 1999, Chuck was in Philadelphia, playing against the 76ers; the place that was the beginning of it all for him. While trying to defend Tyrone Hill in the game, he landed awkwardly, rupturing his quadriceps tendon. He shed tears over the realization and called his wife. “It’s over,” he had told her.

Chuck has grown over it since, channeling his energy and focus into building the $60 million empire across his vodka company, production house, and broadcasting. But when it comes to player injuries, he still seems to have an ear out.

Charles Barkley’s take on injured player’s remark not received well

Recently, Joel Embiid commented about possibly skipping back-to-back games because of injury concerns, saying, “If I had to guess, I would probably never play back-to-backs.” That didn’t sit well with Charles Barkley, who voiced his frustration on TNT. “You’re one of the three or four or five best players in the world,” Barkley said. “You cannot say as a leader of that team, I’m not gonna play certain games.” Chuck felt Embiid’s statement set the wrong tone for his 76ers teammates.

Similarly, Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t buying Embiid’s reasoning either. He took things a step further, noting that the NBA isn’t nearly as physical as it used to be. “You don’t get flagrant fouled,” Shaq pointed out. “There’s no reason to say ‘I’m not playing back-to-back.’”

On the flip side, Stephen A. Smith stepped in to defend Embiid, calling out Chuck and Shaq for being too hard on him. On First Take, Smith argued that Embiid’s history of injuries changes the conversation. “For Joel Embiid, who’s a monster… I don’t understand how they can have a problem, considering all the injuries he sustained.”

Smith didn’t stop there. He doubled down on his stance, saying, “I understand if it was anybody else… but for Joel Embiid, he shows up and will bust your ass.” To Smith, Embiid’s decision was completely justified given his track record, but not very inspiring for Barkley.