On April 9, 2019, Charles Barkley was …

On April 9, 2019, Charles Barkley was part of a star-studded cast at the American Airlines Center that helped send Dirk Nowitzki off into the sunset. The group’s appearance was a surprise touch following the conclusion of Nowitzki’s final home game, and while Scottie Pippen, Detlef Schrempf, Shawn Kemp and Larry Bird offered heartfelt messages to the Dallas icon, it was Barkley who captivated the crowd. The Auburn alum reflected on his first meeting with Nowitzki, in 1997 at a Nike exhibition game in Germany, in which the Big German put on an offensive clinic against a team featuring Barkley, Pippen, Michael Jordan and other NBA talents.