“Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Shared the Ball”: When Charles Barkley ‘Shamed’ 1996 Olympic Team

The legend of Charles Barkley feels as if a word stuck at the tip of your tongue. Almost there but not quite. Recently, the memory of Charles’ NBA conquests seems to be fading. He is now seen as more of an entertaining analyst capable of captivating the entire world with his bluntness.

He is honest to a fault. But over the decades, the collective NBA community has begun to admire and appreciate him for it. Of course, there are times when he goes overboard.

But, there was a time when Charles Barkley was a force of nature. So dominating that he was dubbed an anomaly. After all, which other 6ft 6″ Power Forward won a rebounding title? Only Charles did.

So, naturally, Barkley was seen as an authority who knew the game. When the 1996 Team USA suffered the consequences of bad chemistry, Charles stepped up to get them back on track.

Charles Barkley shamed the 1996 Team USA

In 1992, Barkley played alongside Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson on the Dream team. The way the original Dream Team had functioned really resonated with Chuck. He wanted that legacy of selflessness and sharing to continue in the future.

But the members of the 1996 Team USA felt differently about it. They bickered over who should get more playing time. The search for glory eclipsed the need to be the best team. That is when Barkley shamed them for their behavior.

In their book When the Game Was Ours, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson wrote:

“It was one big ego fest,” Barkley said. “Guys actually boycotted practice because they weren’t happy with their playing time. It was ridiculous.” One afternoon when his ’96 Olympic teammates were complaining about their minutes, Barkley finally snapped. “You should be ashamed of yourselves,” he berated them. “Michael and Magic and Larry shared the ball. They shared the spotlight. And because of that, it was the experience of a lifetime. You guys are a bunch of selfish jerks.”

Barkley was sensational in the 1996 Olympics

Chuck’s presence in the 1996 team is highly underrated. He averaged the most points and laid 7 of the 8 games. Barkley averaged 12.4 points in the tournament. He was also amongst the top 4 overall point scorers with 87 points in the tournament.

Essentially, Barkley led by example. Though he played 7 games, he started only 4 of them. He gave other youngsters an opportunity to showcase their talents. In some way, he ensured they win another gold medal.

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