Where does Charles Barkley's Auburn loyalty come from?
Auburn is his alma mater. Barkley was born in Leeds, Alabama, attended Auburn from 1981 to 1984, and was drafted fifth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1984. He told Saturday Down South in September 2021 that "Auburn going to the Final Four a couple years ago was probably my greatest sports experience." The loyalty also has a sharp edge in what he told Fox News in December 2023: "I can't root for Alabama under any circumstances."
Why does Charles Barkley root for the Eagles?
He explained it to CBS Philadelphia in August 2013: "You know, I root for the Eagles. Being from Alabama, we don't have a professional team so I have kind of adopted the Eagles as my team." That lines up with his playing career, since he began it with the Philadelphia 76ers (1984 to 1992) before moving on to the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets. The fandom has held up. In September 2025 he told a podcast covered by Yahoo Sports (Basketball Network), "I'm a big Birds [Eagles] fan."
Questions people ask
What team did Charles Barkley root for growing up?
He was born in Leeds, Alabama and attended Leeds High School, but the record gives no childhood team; the Auburn fandom dates from his college years (1981 to 1984).
What is Charles Barkley's favorite college team?
Auburn, where he played from 1981 to 1984, and he told Saturday Down South the Final Four run was probably his greatest sports experience.
What is Charles Barkley's favorite NFL team?
The Philadelphia Eagles, whom he told CBS Philadelphia in 2013 he had adopted because Alabama has no professional team.