Charles Barkley Turns 60: Top 5 Career Defining Moments of the NBA Hall of Famer

• Despite retiring over two decades ago, Charles Barkley remains one of the most intriguing figures in the NBA
• He is one of the best power forwards of all time, but despite a great individual career, he never won the title
• As the Philadelphia 76ers legend turns 60 years old, we look at some of his defining and controversial moments

Although he may be dropping some jokes and analysis on your television, Charles Barkley was a bulldozing, undersized, outspoken six-foot-six power forward that made his name in the NBA in the 1990s.

As the NBA legend turns 60; we look back at the top career moments of the former Philadelphia 76ers power forward.

Despite playing over 1,000 games and spending 16 seasons in the NBA, one thing that eluded him was the NBA title. He came close with the Suns in the 1993 finals against the Chicago Bulls, but Michael Jordan could not be stopped.

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Jordan's Bulls sealed their first three-peat, beating a resolute Suns team in six games.

Top 5 Charles Barkley moments

1. Painful Game 6 loss in 1997 WCF

Barkley was traded to the Houston Rockets in 1996 and formed a solid partnership with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Despite their old age, they could still be productive.

However, they couldn't keep up with the Karl Malone and John Stockton combination. Barkley and the Rockets lost in six games, ending his realistic shot at the title.

2. Controversial 'Not a role model' remark

In 1993, Barkley said he was not a role model in a controversial Nike television advert, sparking a national debate. The spot did exactly what it was intended to do, get people talking.

Nike was still the most popular shoe among teenagers, but Reebok's rise was a problem for them; therefore, they had to shake things up. Barkley later claimed the ad was his idea, according to Sportscasting.

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3. Barkley goes to the finals

Barkley will probably go down as the greatest NBA player without an NBA title. It is understandable, though. Michael Jordan owned the 1990s.

He was traded to the Suns just before the 1992/93 season. He won MVP that season and reached the NBA Finals, but Jordan beat them in six games.

4. Barkley spits on a girl

During a Sixers game against the New Jersey Nets in 1991, Barkley infamously spat on a young girl in the crowd while was trying to respond to racial slurs from a heckler in the crowd.

The spit missed the abuser and landed on the girl. He was fined $10,000 and revealed the incident changed his life.

5. 1993 WCF Game 7 masterclass

Barkley wanted his MVP season to count for something. He helped Phoenix make its third Western Conference Final in its last five seasons. They took a 2-1 lead against the Seattle SuperSonics, but their star wasn't performing.

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At 2-2, he dropped a 43-point triple-double in Game 5, but the Sonics fired back in Game 6, setting up a mouth-watering Game 7.

He scored 44 points, helping the Suns win the series 123-110 to progress, according to Bleacher Report.

Barkley's feud with Jordan

Sports Brief earlier reported on Barkley and Jordan's decade-long feud despite being friends and teammates in the Dream Team.

The two iconic sportsmen have not spoken to each other for over ten years now after contention over how MJ was running the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets).

Both legends are known for their pride and competitive spirit, and it remains to be seen if they will ever mend fences.