“Larry Bird Got Me Good!”: When Charles Barkley Was Tricked Into Approaching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar At The All-Star Game

Charles Barkley is one of the most recognizable figures in the NBA. Not only was he a heck of a player, but he has also transitioned into one of the best analysts on TV. A position that is enhanced by his wealth of knowledge and his overall experience.

That being said, there was a time when even Sir Charles was just a young man looking to make a name for himself. And, back when he first got started, Chuck was easily starstruck. Unfortunately, it was his youthful naivety that led him to be pranked.

When he was playing in his first All-Star Game, the former MVP was in awe of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Noticing this, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale capitalized on it. Tricking a young Charles into embarrassing himself in front of one of his idols.

Larry Bird and Kevin McHale once pranked Charles Barkley into disturbing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Back in the day, it was pretty normal for young NBA superstars to get ragged on by the veterans. It was just common practice, a way to introduce the rookies to the big leagues. And for Charles Barkley, his initiation came at his first All-Star Game.

In 1987, The Round Mound of Rebound was three years into his NBA career. Not exactly a rookie, but still young enough to find some of the nuances of the professional game difficult to understand. It was this that allowed Celtics legends, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale to take advantage.

As he explained in an interview, Barkley was keen to say hello to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. After all, he was a huge fan. So, both Bird and McHale egged him on and told him it was a good idea. Unfortunately for Charles, Kareem was reading a book, and no one disturbs him when he is reading.

“With my first All-Star Game, Kareem is sitting at the back. And Bird and McHale, I said, “Man I wanna meet Kareem, I’ve never met him!” and they said, “Go back there and say hello to him”. I walk back, and he’s back there reading, and I say, “Hey Mr. Jabbar”, and he looks up, “I’m reading!”. I turn around, McHale and Bird are laughing their a**es off.”

It was a simple, yet highly efficient prank. One that had Barkley conceding that the Celtics duo had got him good. But, things have only gone downhill since then. Seeing as the now 60-year-old is still getting tricked.

Sir Charles has fallen victim to several pranks since his retirement from the NBA

One would think that after facing one embarrassing prank, Charles Barkley would learn to be a bit more cautious. Sadly, that isn’t the case with the Chuckster. The Hall of Famer is constantly being pranked at work by the lovely Inside the NBA crew. It’s almost as though he hasn’t learned from his past humiliations.

It looks like Charles will continue to be the butt of the joke for a long time. Hopefully, the next time he is pranked, he wisens up, just a little bit.