The money that comes from NBA contracts can turn the heads of some young players, eager to burn with their new fortune. A victim of this phenomenon, Charles Barkley nevertheless received advice that served him well in the rest of his career!
Limited to a few million, even tens of millions, rookie contracts in the NBA push some young stars to overspend. Overwhelmed by this sudden influx of money, they later come to regret their instinctive purchases. In his autobiography I May Be Wrong But I Doubt It, published in 2002, Charles Barkley initially deplored the delicate situation in which this novelty places African-American hopes.
It’s the weirdest thing. It’s weird being rich and black because you find yourself between two worlds. Being rich really puts you in a predominantly white world. Overwhelmingly, everyone you work with outside of sports is white. But you still love the things you used to do, your old friends. You’ve grown more mature than most of them, but you want to maintain ties.
The evils of NBA money according to Charles Barkley
From the large checks they receive upon their arrival in the league, young players see the behavior of a few relatives change. Barkley goes so far as to claim that his friendships have undergone immense changes.
They want to borrow money from you, and you give it to them. You say yes, and it’s like buying their friendship to stay on good terms with them. And they end up backfiring on you too. If you say no, it’s like, “Oh yeah, you don’t want to give me any more money? »
The opportunity to recall the importance of the entourage for the stars of the league, but also for all top athletes, who can see their careers polluted by these sometimes negative influences. Either way, Barkley didn’t just use his burgeoning wealth to benefit his family and friends. He also gave himself a few pleasures, but was quickly called to order by his star teammates at the 76ers, Julius Erving and Moses Malone!
The first time I came into the professional world, I bought something like six cars. And Doc and Moses pushed me to sell them. They said, “Listen, man, you can only drive one car. What the hell are you doing with six? If you only drive one car, sell the other five, invest that money wisely, and let your fortune grow. There will be enough for you to buy twenty cars in 5 or 10 years. »
A vital recommendation for the Chuckster, who is reaping the benefits today, 22 years after his retirement. Even better, the legends of Philly offered him valuable life advice, which he still applies today.
They said to me, “You don’t have to drive a lot of expensive, flashy cars, spend a lot of money on jewelry and get attention. Stop trying to impress people, everyone already knows who you are. »
Often subject to substantial and unnecessary expenses during the beginning of their career, young NBA players can sometimes regret them. Charles Barkley did not have to experience this feeling, he who received as a rookie the precious help of veterans Julius Erving and Moses Malone in Philadelphia!
