For basketball fans of the 1980s and ’90s, Charles Barkley is remembered as one of the greatest forwards the NBA has ever seen, someone who outshone Michael Jordan during his prime for the MVP award and averaged a double-double for 15 consecutive seasons. For modern-day fans, however, Barkley is equally beloved as a television personality – someone who never fails to bring a smile to the viewer’s face whenever he is on screen.
One of the most frustrating aspects of Sir Charles’ career as a player was his inability to win an NBA championship despite joining two star-studded, well-knit teams in the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets. Yet, what he achieved after retirement was something most former players struggle with when they move into punditry – winning hearts worldwide with his unfiltered honesty and opinions.
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Charles Barkley has plenty of appreciation for Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser
That transition into media stardom was possible because Barkley never allowed his identity as a player to inflate his ego or prevent him from embracing a new role. In fact, Barkley credits his success to two individuals, whose sane advice taught him never to take his stint on television for granted and always work diligently.
In an interview with Fox Sports, the 1993 MVP revealed that Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser guided him with valuable advice since his early days in the studio, helping him understand how to build an even greater legacy by flourishing on television.
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“One of my mentors is Mike Wilbon. Him and Tony Kornheiser are two of the most respected guys in my life. I admire and respect the hell out of those guys because they are both real dudes. Mike Wilbon said something to me one time, they had been some of the best journalists ever at the Washington Post for a hundred years, they said, ‘Nobody knew who they were until they got on television,'” the former 11-time All-Star said. “I mean, I’ve been retired for 25 years. None of these people has seen me play; they’ve only watched me on television.”
There haven’t been many like Charles Barkley
That wholehearted wisdom proved prophetic as Barkley has since won four Emmy Awards for his work on Inside the NBA, a testament to how he refused to hang his head over never winning a championship. Instead, he recognized that there was more to accomplish in his second career, striving for excellence in a different arena. Safe to say, he succeeded like no other former player before or perhaps even after him, making ‘Inside the NBA’ a must-watch spectacle every time it airs.
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And who knew that Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser were to thank for making Barkley such a media darling that every time he is on air, fans are forced to tune in just to witness his tomfoolery as well as educational back-and-forths with the other panelists. And perhaps their words even buzz louder than ever in Barkley’s ears as he refuses to take his work lightly even after turning 62 this year.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.