Two of Alabama’s most iconic sports figures – Nick Saban and Charles Barkley – may hail from rival universities, but the mutual respect between the college football coaching legend and the NBA Hall of Famer proves that some bonds transcend rivalry.
Saban, widely regarded as the greatest college football coach of all time, retired following the 2023 season after leading Alabama to six national championships and LSU to one more.
With a 28-year head coaching career and a 297-71-1 record, Saban’s legacy is firmly cemented.
Now serving as an analyst on ESPN’s College GameDay, Saban recently hosted his annual charity event, the “Nick’s Kids Golf Tournament,” where he took a moment to praise Barkley, despite the former Auburn Tiger’s roots.
“I love Charles,” Saban admitted. “He does a great job. He sets a really good example in the community because he’s given a lot back to the community as well.
“I think he’s supported college athletics. I think he does a great job from a professional standpoint in his commentating career. I’m always interested to hear what he has to say in terms of how he analyzes situations.”
Needless to say, the admiration is mutual.
Barkley, a TNT analyst and one of the NBA’s most outspoken voices, has frequently spoken highly of Saban, referring to him as a friend and expressing pride in being invited to speak to the Crimson Tide football team before Saban stepped away from coaching.
That gesture, Barkley has said, meant a great deal to him.
Though the two came from different schools – Saban from Alabama, Barkley from Auburn – their shared commitment to leadership and philanthropy has strengthened their connection.
Barkley has long used his platform and resources to give back, including a $1 million donation last year to support Auburn women’s athletics and another $1 million to the Alabama Community College System.
But Barkley, never one to shy away from controversy, has recently made headlines for comments about the state of college sports, particularly the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness deals.
Appearing on Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich, Barkley criticized the NCAA and likened the current NIL landscape to a chaotic version of free agency.
“The NCAA, they’re a bunch of idiots and fools. They have ruined the sport. I don’t know how you put the toothpaste back into the tube,” Barkley said.
While he clarified that he supports players receiving compensation, Barkley argued that the lack of structure has turned college sports into a revolving door of talent, with no accountability.
“This notion that you have to come up with tens of millions of dollars to pay kids to play basketball, and have them be free agents every year and transfer to another school and get more money every year. Like, we don’t even get to do that in the NBA,” Barkley said.
“Can you imagine if players in the NBA got to be a free agent every year? I’m not opposed to players getting paid, I want to make that clear … But, this notion we got to give college kids tens of millions of dollars a year, and basketball is the worst, because you’re only gonna get a great player for six months. I don’t even see how you’re gonna get the return on investment.”
Barkley’s words echo a growing concern among fans and coaches who worry that the absence of contracts and guardrails is turning college sports into a disastrous free-for-all.
Though the system may be in flux, the relationship between Barkley and Saban serves as a steady reminder of what’s still good in the game – mutual respect, lasting friendships, and a shared desire to give back.
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