12 June 2023 , 15:46
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Charles Barkley has revealed a message from his doctor that proved to be the catalyst for his weight loss journey.
But during an appearance on Turner Sports ahead of game four of the Stanley Cup Final, the basketball pundit disclosed the profound words that helped him knuckle down on his journey. "My doctor told me I was fat. So I'm down 60 pounds," Barkley said.
"She said to me, 'There's no fat old people, only fat young people.’ And she said, ‘If you don't get this stuff together you're not gonna be around.’" Last month the NBA legend, who previously weighed 352 pounds, appeared on the Pat McAfee Show and revealed he had shed 62 pounds (4.42 stone) and now stands at 290.
Barkley has also been doing this with the help of Mounjaro, the brand name for tirzepatide. It is a drug used alongside diet and exercise and also helps to regulate blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes, something he revealed on the Dan Patrick Show. He also mentioned that his physician warned carrying excessive weight as he ages would prove detrimental to his health.
In reference to the prescription medication, Barkley added: "I'm working out. I'm taking my shot once a week.” Barkley is not only one of the best players to grace an NBA court but is also one of the most powerful voices in the media. Speaking on a podcast with NFL players Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce, the former Phoenix Suns star criticised Ben Simmons for his role in the sour end of his time at the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Following the franchise’s exit from the NBA playoffs in 2021 against the Atlanta Hawks, the Australian missed the entire 2021-22 campaign due to internal disagreement with the organisation and injury, while also being traded to the Brooklyn Nets mid-season. Commenting on the situation, Barkley said: "I'm so disappointed in the Ben Simmons situation. The Sixers had to choose between Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler. Obviously, they chose wrong.
The basketball analyst revealed that he's lost 62 pounds since his weight loss journey began (Isaiah Vazquez/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)“What bugs me about the Ben Simmons situation is - as an organisation, as a coaching staff, they just asked him to get better at basketball, and his response was 'Well, here's the middle finger, I'm not playing here anymore'. As a player, your first response should never be 'I'm never playing here again'.
"From Ben Simmons' standpoint, they asked you to get better at basketball and your response is 'Screw you guys, I'm not playing here anymore'? I'm so disappointed as a player. If your coach asks you to get better as a player, that's his job." Furthermore, Barkley thinks Simmons, who now averages just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, has tarnished his career.
"If you look at it, he's probably ruined his career," Barkley said. "He's got this psychological block now when he's scared to shoot the ball. He's got another year of $40 million a year, he's got at least one more year to try and get it right. If he plays like he did this year when he's afraid to shoot the ball, scared to shoot free throws, this might be his last year in the NBA."