Charles Wade Barkley, born on 20 February 1963, is one of basketball’s most recognised figures.

The American former professional player enjoyed a 16-year playing career before becoming a sharp-witted television analyst on TNT Sports and CBS Sports.

The 11-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer recently revealed a bizarre personal habit that dates back approximately three decades: he never wears underwear.

The basketball legend admitted that he burned all his underwear to a flame over 30 years ago. Since then, he has consistently been "going commando".

The Fiery Confession

Barkley shared this startling detail while speaking with Eli and Peyton Manning during an episode of Monday Night Football's ManningCast on 3 November.

Peyton Manning, the two-time Super Bowl winner, posed a direct question to the retired NBA star.

He asked if it was true that Barkley had burned all his underwear about 20 years prior and had not worn any since.

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Barkley did not hesitate in his reply. He confirmed the lore, but corrected the timeline.

"I burned all of my underwear about 30 years ago. Like I said, it was a big fire."

Why Drawers Were Deemed Unnecessary

The former player, who retired in 2000, also offered a surprisingly simple rationale for the extreme wardrobe change. He explained the core reason for ridding himself of the garment.

Barkley determined that the clothing item served no practical purpose.

"Yeah, I realized that underwear was not a necessity."

The 62-year-old analyst insists that he always goes commando. He stated he intends to remain this way "for the rest of my life".

A Career of Achievements

Barkley's decision to forgo intimacy took place around the height of his career. He was the fifth overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.

His career included stints with the Philadelphia 76ers (1984 to 1992), the Phoenix Suns (1992 to 1996), and the Houston Rockets (1996 to 2000).

He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 2006. He was later inducted again in 2010 as a member of the iconic 1992 U.S. Olympic "Dream Team".

This is not the first time the tale of his missing underwear has surfaced. In October 2018, Barkley addressed his lack of "drawers" after his colleague Shaquille O’Neal publicly called him out for it.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at the time, Barkley offered a slightly different, though related, explanation. He told the audience he found underwear "unnecessary for space in the house".

A Fitting but Unworn Gift

Following Barkley’s candid admission on ManningCast, Eli Manning, the longtime New York Giants quarterback, presented the former athlete with a commemorative gift. The Mannings had custom-created a pair of briefs for him.

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The underwear featured the faces of the Manning brothers. It also included the text, "First Manningcast Guest," and the date of his debut on the programme: 13 November 2021.

Eli Manning apologised for the gift, saying he "didn't know the story" before the custom-making. Remaining firm in his commando ritual, Barkley accepted the present but joked he would display it rather than wear it.

"I will put that on my wall. I got to get both of y’all to sign it, and I promise I’ll put it somewhere prominent."