Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said he plans to sell his NBA MVP trophy and memorabilia from the 1992 Dream Team so that he can use the money to help build affordable housing in his hometown of Leeds, Alabama.
Barkley told WJOX 94.5 that he wanted to make a difference in his hometown community, and the best way to do that was to sell valuables in his family’s trophy room.
“We probably got 30 eyesores, as I call them, where houses used to be when I was growing up. Either a rotted-out house or there’s just weeds that have overgrown,” Barkley said. “So, what I’m trying to do — I want to work with the city of Leeds, I want them to give me the spaces, number one. I want them to give me the houses, and I’m going to use my own money selling my memorabilia.
“I want to do something really nice for Leeds. And if I could build 10 to 20 affordable houses — I want to do green housing too — (and) if I could sell all that stuff, it would just be a really cool thing for me.”
Barkley said he plans to keep his 1992 Olympic gold medal because his daughter wants it. But outside of that, he’s selling anything of value.
“I got an autograph deal with Panini and I was talking to the guys,” Barkley explained, “cause all that stuff is at my grandmother’s house, I don’t even keep it to be honest with you — and I said, ‘How much could I get for my MVP trophy and my two gold medals? And I got an autographed plaque signed by the first original Dream Team.’ He says, ‘Oh I can get you a lot of money for that stuff.'”
