Former NBA MVP Charles Barkley has revealed that he’ll be selling his 1992-93 Most Valuable Player trophy and using proceeds derived from it to build affordable housing in his hometown.
According to Dan Bickley of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, the 11-time All-Star from Leeds, Alabama intends to sell that historic piece of hardware along with other items of memorabilia like an Olympic gold medal and a flag signed by each member of the 1992 Dream Team.
“There are so many people out there who just need a hand,” Barkley said of the planned gesture, noting that he’ll hold back one of his Olympic gold medals to pass down to his daughter.
“I want to do something really nice for Leeds. And if I could build 10 to 20 affordable houses, it would just be a really cool thing for me,” he told WJOX 94.5.
Barkley explained the decision in typical Barkley fashion, not afraid to poke fun at himself or call things how he sees them.
Per Bickley:
“I probably look at (the MVP trophy) once every 3-4 months, if I’m passing by my office,” Barkley said. “But how long do you keep this stuff? I mean, my daughter is going to have children. They’ll know that I was a MVP. They won’t need to see the trophy.
“Seriously. What am I going to do? Invite people over to look at the trophy? Am I going to be 75 years old calling up friends and telling them to come over for a viewing party, where we can sit around and look at the trophy?”
Besides:“I’m already rich. Why should I ask other people to take care of the poor?”
Barkley averaged 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game that season and his 62-20 Suns went on to lose in the NBA Finals against Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
