Charles Barkley, renowned as an NBA legend and entertaining broadcaster, first captivated fans with his remarkable skills at Auburn. His loyalty to the university remains steadfast, and when questioned about his stance on Alabama football, Barkley didn’t hold back with some playful insults.
“I can’t root for Alabama under any circumstances,” Barkley asserted during an interview at an Auburn-USC men’s basketball game. Despite acknowledging his respect for Coach Saban, Barkley emphasized that he could never bring himself to support Alabama, jokingly stating, “Under any circumstances. I told you, if they played Afghanistan, I’d be pulling for Afghanistan.”
Barkley’s ties to Auburn date back to his playing days from 1981 to 1984 before he became the No. 5 overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Alabama consistently finds itself at the center of animosity within Auburn circles, given that the two universities are archrivals. Their rivalry is particularly intense as they are the only high-major college athletic programs in the state of Alabama, often referred to as the ‘Heart of Dixie.’
Adding fuel to the rivalry, the Crimson Tide made headlines recently by surpassing undefeated Florida State in the College Football Playoff rankings to secure one of the four semifinal berths. This development likely reignited discussions and debates among fans, intensifying the longstanding competition between the two universities.
Alabama lost one game this season to fellow CFP competitor Texas and ended Georgia’s 26-game win streak in the Southeastern Conference Championship.
Barkley is an 11-time NBA All-Star and won the NBA’s MVP Award in 1993 with the Phoenix Suns.
Barkley will surely be rooting for Michigan when they face Alabama in the Rose Bowl with a berth in the national championship on the line on New Year’s Day.