Hall of Famer Charles Barkley recently revealed in several interviews that he has plans to sell off some of his NBA memorabilia to help provide funds for affordable housing in his hometown of Leeds, Alabama.
Barkley told WJOX 94.5 that he wants to make a difference in his old community and believes the best way to do so is to sell off his valuables, including his 1993 NBA MVP trophy, his 1996 Olympic gold medal and more memorabilia from the 1992 Dream Team.
“I don’t think I have to walk around with my gold medal or my MVP trophy for people to know I’m Charles Barkley, so I’m going to sell all that crap,” Barkley said on the Dan Le Batard show last Thursday. “That just clutters my house. I used to keep it at my grandmother’s house, but they all passed away, and I don’t want that stuff crapping up my house.”
The eyesores in the neighborhood, or rotted-out houses Barkley knew of growing up, have good reason to become spaces for affordable housing.
“I want to work with the city of Leeds, I want them to give me the spaces, number one. I want them to give me the houses, and I’m going to use my own money selling my memorabilia,” Barkley said.
Outside of keeping his 1992 Olympic gold medal for his daughter, because of its sentimental value to the world, Barkley plans to sell any NBA items of value to build up the funds needed to get this project off the ground.
“I want to do something really nice for Leeds,” he said. “And if I could build 10 to 20 affordable houses—I want to do green housing, too. If I could sell all that stuff, it would just be a really cool thing for me.”
Barkley was told he could possibly get at least something between $300,000 and $400,000 for his 1993 NBA MVP trophy.
Barkley has made plenty of memories during his time playing in the NBA. His efforts to use his memorabilia as a way to give back to his community are quite admirable. The legacy he’s led following his retirement provides a great example for others to follow.
