Basketball legend Charles Barkley ribbed hockey legend and NHL on TNT analyst Wayne Gretzky in the presence of top draft prospects on hand for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers.
Top NHL Draft prospects Macklin Celebrini, Cayden Lindstrom, Zeev Buium, and Artyom Levshunov appeared at the Amerant Bank Arena to take a behind-the scenes look at the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers won Game 2 over the Oilers, 4-1, to take a 2-0 series.
Barkley ribs Wayne Gretzky's age in viral video
Wayne Gretzky and Charles Barkley were both backstage at the Florida Panthers' home rink, where he met with the four draft prospects. Barkley then proceeded with his ribbing of Gretzky, acting like he was a starstruck fanboy over The Great One.
“You're Wayne Gretzky? I used to watch you when I was a little kid. You were great…he's amazing,” Barkley said.
“I watch you now on TV all the time, so it all evened out,” Gretzky snappily replied.
But Barkley was quick to the draw, responding: “Hey y'all are getting a chance to meet the greatest hockey player ever…I call him a friend of mine. I used to watch you as a little kid, it was in black and white! I've never seen you in color.” The response by the Round Mound of Rebound drew laughter from the four prospects on hand to witness the exchange.
A brief history of Charles Barkley and Wayne Gretzky
The relations between Charles Barkley and Wayne Gretzky go way back, even to the point that their friendship was a key factor in Gretzky securing a spot behind the commentators' desk on NHL on TNT broadcasts.
“Charles Barkley is a good friend and he called me every single day and said, ‘This will be fun for you,’ and ultimately I decided OK this this something I gotta try and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Gretzky in a 2021 interview. Gretzky relinquished his post as vice chairman of the Edmonton Oilers before taking the analyst role with TNT
Barkley became a hockey fan shortly after he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers when he started meeting players from the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers and 76ers shared the old Spectrum arena during Barkley's stint with Philadelphia between 1984 and 1992.
“I started going to hockey games and I have to say that while watching on TV is pretty good, but there's nothing like a hockey game in person. It's really awesome,” Barkley said in an interview last May. “Back in the day I was hanging out with all these guys going back to Pelle Lindbergh, who passed away, may he rest in peace, Ron Hextall, Rick Tocchet, who is is a great friend of mine and just won the coach of the year. Ron Hextall who was my favourite hockey player all time, was the only jersey I had until I was gifted the Leon Draisaitl jersey.”
Barkley further grew his appreciation for hockey through the relationships he made with NHL on TNT analysts including Paul Bissonnette, Gretzky and Anson Carter.
Most notably, Barkley ribbed Gretzky for losing a rare fistfight in 1982 against then-Minnesota North Stars center Neal Broten.
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