It’s hard to imagine a world without basketball. The sport is so ingrained in our culture that it seems like anything with wheels would be considered an improvement, if not just because of the fact that they’re rolling around on pavement. Basketball has been around since 1891 and its history extends back even further than that; some people believe it was invented by ancient Egyptians as part of their military training regime (hence why the game ends with everyone running away). However, things are changing for hoops games – players are getting bigger and faster while new rules prevent teams from relying too heavily on certain strengths or strategies which will make every game more exciting!.
The NBA has a problem. It’s not the players who are fat, but rather those fans that characterize overweight players as “unfit.” This negative narrative is hurting both team and player morale, leading to increased absenteeism from work, less spending at local businesses during games, and more obesity-related health problems.The NBA is taking a stand on social media to eliminate the use of “fat shaming” as an insult. The league has banned words such as “lardass”, “chubbo”, and more, in response to comments made by LeBron James about Kevin Durant’s weight. Sportswriter Howard Beck says this move will be a win for all people involved, including fans who want their favorite players celebrated for playing basketball well rather than how they look.
The “Just Because He’s Fat Doesn’t Mean He Can’t Play Basketball” is a book about the life of a teenage boy who was bullied because of his weight. The protagonist, however, is able to overcome the bullying and go on to play basketball for their high school team.
Charles Barkley has a knack for surprising people. Sir Charles has a knack of raising eyebrows, whether it’s on the basketball court or in the NBA studios. It’s also nothing new. Barkley stunned the Yugoslavian players at the International Invitational Basketball Tournament in 1983, before being picked into the NBA.
Size was never an issue for Charles Barkley.
Charles Barkley of the University of Auburn sits on the bench during a game in the early 1980s. | Focus on Sport via Getty Images
Barkley’s height was overstated by Auburn, who listed him as 6-foot-6 on the roster. Barkley claimed to be 6-foot-4 in his book, I May Be Wrong, but I Doubt It.
While playing for the Tigers, none of this appeared to bother the guy known as the Round Mound of Rebound. He was a paragon of consistency at Auburn. He was listed as 6-foot-6, 252 pounds, but he was more like 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, and he cleaned up the boards in college, averaging 9.6 rebounds per game.
Barkley was a center for the Tigers, but it wasn’t unusual for him to show off his agility by going coast-to-coast and finishing with a slam when he retrieved a rebound. He scored 14.1 points per game and shot 62.6 percent from the field at Auburn.
Barkley led the Tigers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history in his last year at Auburn. He was invited to test out for the 1984 US Olympic squad, but he was cut late.
In the 1984 NBA Draft, he was chosen fifth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. He was a league MVP and an 11-time All-Star. In 2006, Barkley was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 1983, Charles Barkley left the Yugoslavs scratching their heads.
Barkley and numerous other collegiate and future NBA players competed in the International Invitational Basketball Tournament in June 1983. The international game was quite different from the one that was played in the United States. Each position had a distinct function. The playmakers were the guards. The forwards were the ones who scored, while the centers were in charge of rebounding.
Barkley stole the show for the United States World University Games team in a surprise overwhelming 98-74 triumph against Yugoslavia on Day 2 of the three-day event, according to United Press International. He had 14 rebounds, 11 points, three assists, two dunks, and two blocked shots as a result of his performance.
Many people, including Yugoslavian coach Dusan Ivkovic, were blown away by his performance.
Ivkovic said, “Just because he’s obese doesn’t mean he can’t play basketball.” “In today’s basketball, he’s a new kind of player.” He’s a solid rebounder and a powerful player. You can always utilize a player of his caliber, regardless of his stature.”
Barkley paired up with Karl Malone of Louisiana Tech, who scored 10 points in the first half to help the United States establish a 47-34 lead at halftime.
When the 76ers picked Barkley, they were worried about his weight.
On the basketball floor, Barkley’s athleticism and abilities were never in doubt. His weight, on the other hand, was a source of worry.
According to USA TODAY, then-Sixers general manager Pat Williams claimed, “Charles was around 6-4, he weighed 290, and he could grab the ball off the backboard and run the length of the court.” “I don’t think there’s ever been someone exactly like him.”
“We took him, a little nervously. He tipped the scales at 290 pounds. ‘Charles, you need to eat a more balanced diet,’ I told him. ‘A balanced dinner does not include a Big Mac in both hands.’
Former Sixer Bobby Jones stated, “I remember him when he first came out to training camp.” “I told Julius (Erving), ‘I’m not sure his back and knees can handle it.’ He weighed 305 pounds when he arrived at camp. We weren’t sure whether his body could withstand the punishment he’d have to endure in order to play for many years.”
His weight was always a source of worry, but it never became an issue. During his eight years in Philadelphia, Barkley was unstoppable. He was named the league’s MVP after being traded to the Phoenix Suns.
“We worked the contract,” Williams said, “and it had all kinds of weight provisions in it.” “As it turned out, we never double-checked them.” He returned to the NBA in the autumn at 250 pounds and was a fantastic player.”
RELATED: Twelve Years Ago, Charles Barkley Delivered His Own Impressive Version of Allen Iverson’s ‘Practice’ Rant
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