Charles Barkley Kicking It with Ernie Johnson in 1992

May 12, 1992 - Charles Barkley's Philadelphia 76ers finished just 35-47 in 1992, meaning Chuck was on the outside looking in for the duration of the '92 playoffs. As such, he joined Ernie Johnson in the TNT studios midway through the second round for one of his first (if not THE first) on-air guest spots.
Noticeably more soft-spoken, here Barkley discusses his future with the 76ers. One month later, he was dealt to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry, and Andrew Lang. Barkley led the Suns to the NBA Finals his first year with the club, where his team lost in six games to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
A special thanks to the ineffable Hardwood and Hoops.

[@TexanInItaly]

POV: You're watching Charles Barkleys job interview.

[@ramuelcruzada3207]

Hahaha right...

[@Irena1106]

Nailed it

[@DiscopediaTheBoogieMan]

Whats great is that it truly shows the charisma and honesty that has been a hallmark of, as my dad with a thick Boston accent, “Chahhhhhlie Bahhhhkley”

[@jethrojacinto2798]

For TNT or Phoenix? 😂

[@MadeForD]

@@jethrojacinto2798 both? both. both is good

[@thedangerwich5476]

That early 90s media style is very cool.

[@lucasloucetios164]

Absolutely !

[@TheAutumnWind_RN4L]

Yep.

[@bubbabear244]

Lofi and modest objectivity

[@TyroneNBAFan]

Yep. It was professional. Before Skip and Stephen A. made it a clown show.

[@deflategate1297]

Agreed just straight to the point and not trying to look hip and relatable to everyone

[@scarletrobin]

Good lord I'm not used to Chuck being so soft-spoken and serious. But this just shows that even though he's willing to play a clown he's always been a well-spoken thoughtful guy

[@fattaman777]

Off the court, he was quiet as a young man. On the court, it's well-known he was more "outspoken", let's say. 😅

[@ramsesstafford4640]

If you my age 46 and older you remember this Charles Barkley very well.

[@smittywerbenjagermanjensen320]

He just wants to make people happy

[@fateriddle14]

It's more about he's at a depressing situation at the time, at the point of getting traded by 76ers and having a lot of self doubt even about his own ability as a basketball player and leader

[@dickensanthony]

"Well-spoken"? Do you people say the same thing about Tom Brady's early interviews?

[@theunthinkable1021]

I'm not believing my eyes seeing both young Ernie and Chuck.

[@tloc243]

You call Ernie young?😂

[@antonwendesten7857]

@@tloc243 He was like 35 yrs old in this clip. He looks a lot older

[@tloc243]

@@antonwendesten7857 oh yea he looks like he's in his upper 40s here

[@Pasan34]

That's Sir Charles to you. At least back then.

[@dismantledbrain5910]

@@tloc243 A receding hairline does that to a man..

[@RobsRetroGaming]

32 years ago.!They should play this clip on NBA on TNT today, just to get some laughs! LOL

[@user-nk6dc2wk6p]

i seconded!! should make them all lol'ed!

[@SHANKDAWGBABY]

They have already and pf course shaq had a field day mocking chucks voice. Lol

[@IAMU.D.]

They already did comment this after 10 years again lol 😅

[@Metsfan7232]

Shaq will be holding up those four fingers for Charles to see.

[@Kube_Dog]

Seeing young Ernie and young Charles... and knowing that together they weigh less than Charles today.

[@nutsbutdum]

Ernie Johnson was 36 years old in this clip. Wow!

[@MrKijana23]

Was he??!! Dang that's some highway miles he got on him..

[@ROSH1503]

Bruh 36 was different back in the 90s. Lawd!

[@wh_aviation8411]

@@ROSH1503 It seems like all the ages back then were different.....

[@DV-ou1yu]

​@@ROSH1503lmfao FACTS

[@only1jamesp]

36 looking like he’s 46, he looks younger now. Barkley only 29.

[@HostileTakeover88]

Gets traded to the Suns and gets MVP the next year.

[@jordanhutton5787]

After leading the Dream Team in scoring at '92; Olympics as well

[@maojordan23]

And still... no title. In today's basketball Barkley of 89-90 could be on track for debates on Goats. Conversely, Mr. Lebron James playing in the 90s would just be forever second (if not third, or fourth). Can anyone try to guess the defence of the Pistons on Lebrpon James? They would get also his beard by the end of the game :D

[@mikeyslots_]

​@maojordan23 lebron would definitely still be a great player in the 80's and 90's, but I can guarantee you this, he's not playing 21 seasons😂. Those Detroit boys were out to genuinely hurt you

[@Gri03]

And yet no ring for him.

[@fmbbeachbum8163]

@@maojordan23 LeBron has made the game look easy and the Pistons would've hated that & tried to k!ll him.

[@MannyMensah94]

A prelude of great things to come with Charles Barkley and TNT.

[@emceesmith6665]

It's kind of like Chuck telling Ernie and the network what they'll get if they hire him. Like, I'll bring the laughs, but people are gonna get pissed off, and I won't change for them. And Ernie has been rolling with it for decades.

[@unoriginalname6354]

Despite how different this interaction feels compared to their Inside the NBA work, you could already see the chemistry and rapport between the two.

[@charlesjones6708]

Ernie said, "we'll be back in a minute". 32 years later they are still there. That's a lot of minutes.

[@TheAfricanPie]

Lol

[@TheGoobler]

Roughly 16,827,840 minutes give or take! 😃🤯

[@charlesjones6708]

@@TheGoobler Lot of minutes Goobler.

[@TheGoobler]

@@charlesjones6708 Precisely Charles.

[@MoralesCorner]

Here's where it all started. They have certainly come a long way. Both of this men are legendary. The NBA would not be received the same way without them

[@fentanyljones6956]

Hopefully they don’t blow it w/ the new tv deal.

[@Ivanselectsongs]

these*

[@guppy90rl81]

True

[@agumonplayzz2490]

​@@Ivanselectsongs what are you talking about?

[@Kube_Dog]

Basketball has 2.1% of the TV audience. Without Inside the NBA, it would be 1.3%. Take away inner city viewers, it's 0.16%. Basketball is dead.

[@ChaseRiver2]

Ernies voice got higher and chucks got deeper 😂

[@alfgrebs6172]

That's what happens when you get older.

[@gamerschannel9610]

You could say what you want about Charles Barkley but he hasn't changed one bit. As authentic as it gets

[@YogSoth]

Hasn’t changed? He’s changed a lot, just like anyone (worthwhile anyway) changes from when they are 29 to when they are 64. He’s definitely an authentic guy, but he’s also definitely not the same person today that he was when he was in his twenties.

[@xMontorix]

My boy Chuck was playing the long game with this.

[@fabricealluma7236]

Ernie's voice is legendary

[@orthotech9758]

It's crazy to think that just about 6 weeks later Shaq would be the #1 pick in the draft. I was in 11th grade when this aired. Man I'm getting old .

[@Yevvvvvy]

and I ain't even alive! Fricking sperm in a ball!

[@johnholmes2745]

How old are you now? Pushing 50 grandpa

[@Illtechnica]

My older siblings was a HS Junior as well. I was a Freshman in HS. It's like we were there just yesterday and 32 years flew by in the blink of an eye.

[@nizoladehomu382]

I would be born a year later☹️

[@MrOneanddone91]

Old ass

[@tiff3174]

"A hack is a foul"

[@mcnalga]

A hack is a fouw

[@CarlosMaldonado83]

I was just thinking that lmao

[@MultiHarryboii]

“Physical is something else”

[@fnregistration]

This is a great clip. Chuck just being straightforward, not a BS artist or cliché machine.

[@ModernDayRenaissanceMan]

This is truly golden era footage.

[@dragomirmarinov3891]

This is actually an excellent interview.

[@moses0686]

Great questions by Ernie great, honest answers by Charles

[@Al.j.Vasquez]

His explanation of why his future in Philadelphia was unclear was incredible, I'm not sure you could've taken this badly if you were a 76ers fan back then.

[@Phil-S8]

Hey Chuck, what about those women in San Antonio? 😅

[@WyWid]

Let’s keep it classy hear

[@malcorub]

Rookie Shaq pops in, "say it again Chuck!"

[@kdm374]

Victoria is definitely a secret there

[@FunkyBandana]

Them churros all the way!

[@Christian3174]

Those big ol women 😅

[@k.c.r.5974]

Primed out Ernie and Sir Chuckles. The year of the Dream Team. Barkley ends up in Phoenix and almost winning the NBA championship. I wish he did. If only he had Stockton his entire career. Love Sir Chuckles!

[@BSmokeyGaming]

Just looking at the body language of both Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley, this is definitely a match made in heaven. Charles Barkley eventually joined Ernie Johnson on TNT for basketball coverage. TNT should show this in the future just for fun on NBA pregame/postgame show on TNT.

[@jpineapple9495]

"Charles Barkley eventually joined Ernie Johnson on TNT for basketball coverage." Bro are you an AI?

[@theOnyFUFU]

Chuck went through puberty. Lol...His voice is so much deeper now than it was back then

[@bandito241]

It’s called decades of smoking and hard liquor

[@vicarious_gaming]

Dude was 30 😂

[@goblue193]

Your voice gets deeper as you age

[@tevinsherrill5653]

How it all began. I really hope Chuck doesn't take up a job with LIV Golf...

[@Pz12345]

That video was sooo cool. Thanks for uploading.

[@pete2659]

Chuck is a special man I appreciate him so much

[@tjadenekan]

This man was born to be a tv commentator.

[@nkosimathurin4971]

This is a fantastic interview!

[@chefjeff1366]

oh man, proof that Ernie is the GOAT

[@WyWid]

Chuck is soft spoken, but he’s very good at articulating his words. Classy

[@RoyPage1970]

I remember watching this on TV when it premiered

[@AnimeMusicProfessor]

35 year old Ernie Johnson with 29 year old Charles Barkley!

[@guppy90rl81]

Imagine a world where Barkley becomes a coach and wins an nba championship. That would be awesome.

[@RoyPage1970]

He has no interest in that

[@ASJyirod]

End up knocking an entitled player young enough to be his child out cold

[@juzzytin86]

Damn this is a great interview by Sir Charles

[@gridironthrowback2834]

1992: "We should take the game to the ghetto where it started." 2024: "Oops"

[@HumanOptimization]

lol what a moronic thing to say. the game originated in a school yard in canada LOL

[@jonathanbaird8109]

Ah, classic Chuck and his "a hack is a foul" voice

[@justins6960]

This video is older than Charles is here

[@Viserysrule3]

This a gold…love Ern and Chuck

[@playlists8029]

This video just makes me miss my Sonics, RIP 2008.

[@stardemonspacecat]

That's Chuck... always keepin' it 💯 !!!

[@masonjones1812]

Cool to watch...Ernie was still the same as he now just younger obviously. It's funny how younger Chuck wasn't more jokey like he is now lol...but he was an active player then. No bs...had a "straight to the point mentality" Btw...since you found this, you need to find a young Kenny and young Ernie clip now.

[@Swove2204]

I got you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3_Whn9urLeJZqs

[@bilogskii2216]

Chuck always had a great sense of humor. He's just serious here because it's a formal set up. And he doesn't know Ernie on a personal level yet so he's a little stiff too.

[@user-ow7qv8nq6t]

He wasn't a role model.

[@deflategate1297]

@@user-ow7qv8nq6the is human like us

[@Anthony-nd6vk]

I thought Chuck was way younger than 29 here…easy to forget how long he was with the 76ers

[@cityhawk]

Two points: 1) The Sixers were never going to build a title contender around Charles. 2) They were never going to get past the Bulls, and the Sixers front office and coaching staff were content with that. I could see why he wanted out of Philly.

[@BrooklynBalla]

@@cityhawk Ya those Sixers teams really stagnated at that point with no hope in sight.

[@cityhawk]

@@BrooklynBalla It looks like much hasn't changed in Philly. Content in being “fine” or “just good”. That's how you get complacent.

[@Anthony-nd6vk]

@@cityhawk I’m not saying he shouldn’t Haven’t wanted out, it’s just easy to forget (for me at least) he was there for 8 whole seasons. The picture of Chuck, the player, in my head defaults to him as a Sun.

[@nelsonkaran7340]

Golden! Pure gold from the 90s

[@GoatedAtNFS]

and now Inside the NBA is about to end its tenure. sad times ahead

[@tukiluka]

2:09 “…well number one…” ❤

[@EdPattermann]

Great questions Ernie. Boy KZbin is great!

[@zephiin]

Earnie really raised these dudes up in broadcasting after their playing careers 🤯 This clip shows how poor chuck started. You watch him now and wouldn’t believe these are the same people

[@hebrew984]

That's because the new guy is a clone 😂

[@DV-qx8hn]

You're a clone ​@@hebrew984

[@DannyP-dm1pw]

@@hebrew984 You internet nerds with the clone conspiracy stuff. If Barkley was cloned he'd be a baby growing up all over again. Just like how people say Eminem is a clone. If they cloned him in 2005 like peopel say than Eminem would be 19 today. Stop smoking weed and get common sense. Sadly you're probably over 30 and didn't get out of that high school mentality. They would have to decide the second Charles was born they would clone and kill him off back in 1963 or whatever.

[@fentanyljones6956]

This is a treat

[@benjamintaylor5025]

Young Ernie Johnson looks like Peter Jennings.

[@rainwolf1987]

Or Leroy Jenkins

[@benjamintaylor5025]

@@rainwolf1987 come on you know goddamn well he doesn't look like Leroy Jenkins. Get out of here that stupid ass joke.

[@69ISH1]

Right??!!? 😂😄😁😎

[@Samsaraindo]

I was 9 and remember watching this!

[@askimbalim11]

Wow!! 30 years ago & still working together.

[@IamNotTrey]

Chuck was playing in the league.

[@MrEllipsis423]

This is mind blowing at this point

[@majorkade]

About ten years before this, I stood next to CB in Auburn while watching Herschel Walker run the last leg of the 4x100 for the Dawgs against the Tigers. Barkley was a fresh or soph. I was a kid. I have this photo on my blog. 😃

[@keyhimself3542]

If Toy Story ever makes a movie human actors(tress), Chuck better get the Mr Potato Head role

[@estebanb7166]

That would be incredible. You need a casting job asap.

[@lebronjames-oo8gg]

Pin this pls

[@oneironaut.indigo]

Steve Harvey

[@user-wm2xi2cn8s]

Incredible that they've know each other over 30 years and are still working together. They're like family man. Sad to see the show is ending and NBC will have the basketball games instead of TNT. Hope these guys do another show.

[@furnitureconsortium]

Not a done deal yet Remember, WBD has the contractual option to match any offer that NBC proposes.

[@fredflux2738]

Ernie did a great job with teenage Chuck, great father.

[@Xscape128]

Ernies been at it for a long time

[@keronwindley4950]

Great throw back video of Young Chuck and Ernie,.. I wonder what Charles Barkley’s response would’ve been if Ernie Johnson had asked what’s it like when Sixers go to San Antonio to play the Spurs? 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@andrewcomments5812]

That was Charles 'I'll Never Go Out With Madonna Again' Barkley 😂

[@Clippers2024]

Bruh those 90s cameras made Charles look two shades darker

[@warmunky3797]

Yo Ernie! I'm from the Future! And I've travelled back in time to let you know that in the future you and Chuck are gonna be Best Buds and broadcasting together telling us all what you think of the week in Basketball! Keep doin what you're doin, u guys are ON POINT!! :) Big Love!

[@1gloomyDAY]

Read that in Chuck's voice.

[@juanguerrero4864]

Holy crap ernie has hair

[@TaguroSuper]

0:30 Chuck was sent to the Phoenix Suns after this playoffs.

[@cmair77]

Wow, nice seeing them as young men

[@LilAlpo1]

This interview here in 1992 talking about the Sixers and how they're not that great, and just a year later, he would be going up against Michael and the Bulls in the NBA Finals with the Suns

[@patrickwickett1787]

Man this is great.

[@andmyAlex]

Everyone used to talk different on TV. Crazy to see these two now & then

[@travisscranton1059]

Our first “well first off”

[@keronwindley4950]

Now he just says “First of all”

[@MOCdude]

Two legends in the basketball world

[@wadjay1117]

That old school professional act is gone from commentary. Ernie still keeps it professional, but here he is very formal. It’s crazy how our times changed. I could understand why this style faded for the modern style of behavior from the journalists/pundits.

[@forsaken7976]

Society in general regressed

[@user-wd4uf2sm5d]

NBA on TNT, the best cast, the best show!

[@lonewulf44]

One year later he was challenging Jordan with the Suns in the Finals right? They really need to show this on Inside the NBA one night.

[@hood_TheJoker]

damn this is old.. I was still in high school holy cow

[@mariahyohannes]

Sir Charles was serious as a young man a little shy. He’s definitely mellowed out sfter retiring

[@Syhbw]

Chuck was pretty intense back then.

[@Tyler-hk4wo]

I was born in the mid 80s and grew up in the 90s mostly and even I forgot how old school everything looked.

[@AngelNoriega1]

Someone needs to go back in time and tell Ernie to call him “Chuckster”

[@NeW758]

Wow 92!!

[@emcee_spokesman]

I've never been a fan of any team Charles played with but I still think it's a bummer he never won a ring

[@davidjosh5640]

The vestiges! Translucent, slowly fading beyond the capacity of the cameras to capture. Ernie’s top hair.

[@PrimitivElement]

God damn these are some sharp young fellas

[@darrellid]

You were wrong, Sir Charles--LOTS of people love you!

[@bballjj18]

That mega man x style outtro tho 🔥

[@vincespell]

Charles the game originated in Canada! a Dr. Naismith came up with the game of basketball, neither Basketball or the Marvel Character "Black Panther" can we claim...Lol...The game was made to be enjoyed by everyone, not just us!

[@drampagrampa]

Legendary

[@Jackspaniel1]

Charles is diesel!! The arms are ripping through the sleeves of that suit. 💪

[@labintingelstad]

well-spoken thoughtful guy

[@babytigtig3795]

I miss the 90s

[@Altered-Beast]

Elevator Ernie & Round Mound all the way through to Chuck & Ernie 😂

[@diha9004]

Chuck: "I kind of like this TV thing - could do this for a living"

[@bobboberson2024]

Wow. How things have changed!

[@lacolem1]

Right before the Phoenix trade

[@LeadersOfAFreeMind]

I’m watching this while inside the nba is playing. Chuck speaks like an entirely different person. The cadence, the projection, phrasing, it’s all different. What a trip.

[@deflategate1297]

Prob needed to break into the media world

[@simonkim8646]

I picture tv broadcasts back in the day to be aimed at white suburbanites, but this aired before I was born so what do I know

[@jaakkoeskola2871]

Still awaiting for Chuck's no.2s🤔🤔🤔 This was definitely a prologue of an amazing steamroom relatioship!

[@TheFinesseDon]

Crazy they had a halftime sponsorship

[@ZWeinstein15]

These guys should work together someday.

[@wojak91]

Barkley doing his best michael jackson interpretation

[@RobinWalton-nj8gm]

not believing my eyes seeing both young Ernie and Chuck.