Charles Barkley spoke, the Trail Blazers listened, and on Sunday night Barkley got paid.
The team heard about Sir Charles saying it still owed him money for a trip to Portland he took years ago to personally lobby for a trade. (Based on this 2015 Sports Illustrated story, the meeting happened in 1992, right before the 76ers traded Barkley to the Suns.)
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Barkley gave out a number for this personal expense, too: $1,197. Not sure if he charged interest and/or factored in inflation.
Anyways, Chuck received his reimbursement after the NBA All-Star Game at Staples Center. Blazers guard Damian Lillard hand-delivered a check ("We pay our debts," Lillard said), which Shaquille O'Neal soon lifted.
The @trailblazers came through! 👀😂 pic.twitter.com/7A6nTCAfim
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 19, 2018
If Barkley ever gets the check back from Shaq, it will wind up on a wall rather than in a bank.