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Former Auburn Tigers basketball player Charles Barkley to be on GameDay

By Abbey Giese

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 04: Former NBA player and commentator Charles Barkley looks on prior to the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game between the Villanova Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 04: Former NBA player and commentator Charles Barkley looks on prior to the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game between the Villanova Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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A former Auburn Tigers basketball player and NBA star will be the celebrity guest picker for College GameDay at the Iron Bowl on Saturday.

Former Auburn Tigers basketball player Charles Barkley is one of the most entertaining personalities in sports. Much like Les Miles and Steve Spurrier, Barkley does not seem to have much of a filter. The NBA analyst says whatever comes to his mind.

So, it seems fitting that the College GameDay crew chose “Sir Charles” as this week’s celebrity guest picker. College GameDay will broadcast live from Auburn for the Iron Bowl.

However, College GameDay is not the only event that brings Barkley to Auburn this week. On Friday before the Iron Bowl game, the Auburn men’s basketball team plays Winthrop, and they will have a Charles Barkley Appreciation Night. Auburn will unveil a statue of the Hall of Famer on campus on Saturday in front of Auburn Arena. Barkley will also participate in the Tiger Walk before the Iron Bowl on Saturday.

Barkley played for Auburn from 1981 to 1984. He made his NBA debut in 1984 after being selected as the fifth overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft. He played in the league for 16 years. Barkley was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

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Although Barkley spent his college career at Auburn, he has developed a good relationship with the Alabama football team. Barkley interviewed Alabama football head coach Nick Saban during the Summer for AL.com. And when the Crimson Tide held training camp before the start of the season, Barkley was a guest speaker. He delivered a message to Alabama players on the importance of being successful.

Even though Barkley has a lot of respect for Saban and his program, it is unlikely that the former Tigers basketball player will pick against his own school on GameDay. But no matter who Barkley picks to win the Iron Bowl, he is sure to entertain us while doing it.

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