Charles Barkley is well-known for his strong opinions and unfiltered, bold takes. However, he also knows when to appreciate true greatness with humility and adulation. Earlier this year, the NBA legend went on to express his gratitude towards two of the game’s greatest players – Magic Johnson and Larry Bird on ESPN’s ‘First Take’. While doing so, he also educated the younger players in the league on the contributions of the legends of bygone days. According to Chuck, Magic and Larry are responsible for increasing the average salary of the NBA by $980,000 between 1984 and 2023.
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Charles Barkley is an NBA Hall of Famer and was also part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Despite Barkley’s status in the league as a bona fide superstar, his total career earnings across 14 seasons amount to $40,608,000. Even if you adjust it to inflation, the amount still seems low compared to what the players earn today. To put things in perspective, Sir Charles’ highest-paid season came in 1999-00, where he earned $9,000,000. On the other hand, the #1 pick of the 2023 Draft, Victor Wembanyama is set to make $12,160,680 in his rookie season.
Charles Barkley asks youngsters to thank NBA legends
As a guest on ESPN’s ‘First Take’, NBA legend Charles Barkley talked about the league’s salary evolving over the years. The Chuckster believes Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are the reason for the players earning millions today. When Chuck started his career in 1984, the average salary was $200,000. Today, the number has risen to $10 million. According to him, the young players should thank Magic and Bird for the surge. Here is what he said:
“You talk about the average salary now is $10 million. When I came to the NBA, the average salary was $200,000. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are the two most important people in NBA history. Because you remember something, it was too black, too thuggish, bunch of druggies. It was tape delayed. There was only one game a week on Sunday afternoon. That all changed with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Every NBA player, you see Magic and Bird, you say Thank you! They made it a mainstream sport.”
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Barkley believes if not for Magic and Bird, the game would not have been the same today. Before the two players, the glamour and the charisma weren’t there in the sport of basketball. He also credited Michael Jordan for taking the sport to another level in the 90s. With Jordan, the NBA scaled new heights and became a global phenomenon. The current crop of players is reaping the benefits of the seeds sown by these great gentlemen.
Barkley got big money with his new TNT contract
Eventually, Charles Barkley got paid his worth. As part of ‘NBA on TNT’, arguably the best NBA show on TV, he has made a name for himself in the media world. His new contract with TNT is reportedly worth over $100,000,000. The deal, structured over ten years, is an effort to keep the crew intact for as long as possible.
Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal have together made ‘NBA on TNT’ the most entertaining sports show on the planet. Their chemistry is unbelievable. Even when things seem to get out of hand, EJ does a commendable job of keeping things under control. It’s no surprise the owners at TNT are doing all they can to keep the show running.
