After spending eight seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers and four seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Charles Barkley arrived at the Houston Rockets with a reputation for being an outspoken and fearless player who didn’t think before taking any action on as well as off the court.
The Round Mound of Rebound only added to his reputation when he got himself ejected in the first three minutes of the final preseason game in his very first (1996-97) season in Houston.
Barkley went at it with Charles Oakley
When the 33-year-old Barkley joined Houston, anticipation ran high. Important players such as Robert Horry, Mark Bryant, Sam Cassell, and Chucky Brown were traded to the Suns, all to secure Barkley’s presence alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.
However, amidst the fervor surrounding his arrival, the 1993 MVP’s emotions got the better of him, leading to his ejection from the final preseason against the New York Knicks.
A mere three minutes into the game, the Auburn product found himself in a scuffle with Oakley, setting a fiery tone for not only their ejections but also ultimately leading to the ejections of Kevin Willis and Patrick Ewing.