Despite not having won an NBA championship, Charles Barkley built a legacy as one of the best players of his era. Even, he earned 11 All-Star selections and won the MVP award in the 1991 edition of the All-Star Games. Moreover, he cemented his place in the history of both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns. Despite his dominance, Barkley once admitted that one player actually scared him on the court, surprisingly it was not Michael Jordan.
“Derrick Coleman was one of the few guys that I ever said that guy scared me right there…If that guy had got his stuff together, they would have had to change the rules. That guy had it all, he could shoot 3s, he could post up, he was ambidextrous. That guy, I said, ‘Woah, this is a handful right there’,” stated Charles Barkley.
Barkley did not suggest Derrick was a dirty player. Instead, he highlighted how rare Coleman’s talent truly was. Although he stood 6-foot-10 and was able to attack the paint with power. Also, he had a smooth shooting stroke. Additionally, the former Nets star excelled on defense thanks to his elite physical capacity. He blocked shots with ease and disrupted opposing offenses. Therefore, he dominated every area of the game and became nearly impossible to contain.
Even though Coleman was special, his numbers never reached elite levels such as Michael Jordan’s impressive numbers. Throughout his career, he averaged 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 781 games. Still, his value could not be measured by stats alone. He affected games in ways that did not show up on the box score. His most productive years came with the New Jersey Nets. There, he averaged 20.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.
Derrick Coleman #44 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives against Erick Dampier #25 of the Golden State Warriors during the game at the Arena in Oakland on November 1, 2003 in Oakland, California. The Warriors won 104-90.
Not only did Charles praise Derrick Coleman, but former New Jersey Nets guard Kenny Anderson did the same. Anderson played with stars like Paul Pierce. However, he still named Coleman as the best player he ever shared the court with. He also offered a strong explanation to back up his claim.
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NBA legend Charles Barkley explains why Michael Jordan could not guard him
“Now these guys shooting threes, he could shoot threes, but he didn’t because it was a different type of game. Left-handed, 6’9, dunk on you, pass the ball extremely well, just was an awesome player and a good person too,” stated on The Mark Jackson Show.
Perhaps Coleman’s inconsistency after leaving the Nets hurt his image with fans. He never posted the same numbers with another team. However, he stayed relevant as a top-tier defender. He brought impressive versatility during the final years of his career. Moreover, his legacy stands out. He was one of the first big men to dominate with both size and skill. His rare mix of talent and physicality set a different standard in the league.
