22.04.2025 Charles Barkley: I was exchanged to Lakers, but Philadelphia gave the back at the last moment

Charles Barkley told how he almost put on a violet-gold form. In a conversation with Ernie Johnson on the podcast The Steam Room Barley told the story of an failed exchange.
I was exchanged to Lakers - a true story. In the morning, my agent calls me: Hey, the Sixers finally decided - you were exchanged for Lakers. And I am: damn it, thank you, finally, I can`t wait! . I call friends, and we go to the restaurant, take off in full.
Turn off in full, Ernie. The agent calls: let`s meet at 12. And I seemed to get out of hell, from purgatory. Somewhere at 15:00, the agent calls again: Sixers gave the back. And we have a game in the evening. I don`t remember the game. . . I ran home, thundered a little. And I don’t even know what happened in the game. I was so angry. This is the strangest situation with the exchange in which I have ever participated, ”said Barkley.
Charles Barkley played for Philadelphia over 8 seasons from 1984 to 1992. In the 1984/1985 season, the Sixers reached the finals of the Eastern Conference, where they lost to Boston (1-4).