Barkley Injured in Philly Farewell

Charles Barkley’s NBA career ended right where it started, only not the way he wanted.

Playing in the city where his remarkable career began, Barkley ruptured a tendon in his left knee Wednesday night during Philadelphia’s 83-73 victory over Houston and said his 16-year career is over.

“I guess the big fella in the sky wanted me to finish right where I started,” said Barkley, the Rocket forward who already announced he is retiring after this season. “There were a lot of people here tonight who saw me play my first game and . . . my last game.”

Barkley broke down crying in the locker room after going down in the first quarter of what was to be his final regular-season game in Philadelphia. Barkley called his wife and told her his career was over.

“I do think it was supposed to happen like this,” Barkley said. “It was supposed to end in Philadelphia.”

Barkley was going up to block a shot by Tyrone Hill when he lost his balance and hit the floor hard with 4:09 left in the first. The tendon that attaches his thigh to his kneecap ruptured. The injury, rare in basketball, requires surgery and at least six months of rehabilitation.

Philadelphia team doctor Jack McPhilemy said it would be career-threatening even for a young player. Barkley will be 37 in February.

“I knew it was over as soon as I saw it,” Barkley said. “I knew it was over when it first happened. I saw the way the kneecap was bulging through my leg and I said, ‘Well, it’s been fun.’ ”

The 76ers honored Barkley before the game and flew his mother, Charcey Glenn, and grandmother, Johnnie Mickens, to the game. Glenn was in tears as Barkley talked about the injury and his career during a news conference that capped a tumultuous, outrageous, accomplished basketball career.

“God doesn’t make mistakes,” Mickens said. “He ended it right where it started. He said he was going to retire, and I took it with a grain of salt. Now I really do believe he’s going out, before it’s too late.”

Philadelphia guard Aaron McKie said, “I’m sure he wished he could have left standing tall.”

Hill embraced Barkley after the game, wished him luck and thanked him for paving the way for other players. “He did so much for the league, no one will really know how much,” Hill said.

Philadelphia President Pat Croce, who was the team’s trainer when Barkley played for the 76ers, spoke affectionately of the player.

“I love Charles,” Croce said. “When I came into the 76ers in ‘84, he was my ‘Round Mound of Rebound.’ . . . I got him down from 290 pounds to the svelte 260 he is now. I was the one who chased the pizza delivery guy away at 12 o’clock at night.”

Barkley was drafted fifth overall by the 76ers out of Auburn in 1984 and led them to the playoffs six time in eight years. No one Barkley’s size has ever been so dominant inside; despite what the roster says, Barkley is only a shade under 6 feet 5.

He won his first and only rebounding title in 1987, led two U.S. Olympic teams to gold medals, was the NBA’s MVP in 1993 and was selected one of the league’s 50 greatest players.

Barkley never won a championship, and he was at least as notable for his barroom altercations and controversial comments as for his talent.

“I don’t have any sadness in my heart,” Barkley said. “You guys have seen me grow from a boy to a man.

“And it was great to finish in Philadelphia, where it started. If I’m fortunate enough to go to the Hall of Fame, it will be as a 76er.”