"Who would make up a story like that?" - Sixers equipment manager confirms Charles Barkley would take showers with his jersey on

During a recent appearance at Rowan University's Speaker Series, Charles Barkley was surprised by a visit from Allen Lumpkin, a former Philadelphia 76ers employee who worked his way up from ballboy to Executive Director of Team Logistics. Lumpkin attended the event specifically to verify a long-standing story Barkley had told about his early NBA days.

Barkley confirmed that the tale of him showering with his Sixers jersey on is entirely true, explaining that in his first four or five years in the league, teams flew commercial due to high charter costs. After games, players had to wash their own jerseys because they flew out early the next morning for back-to-back matchups. Barkley described showering with the jersey on, soaping it down, and then finding a place to let it dry overnight so it would be ready to pack.

This practice was a result of the logistical challenges before NBA teams adopted private flights, which began after the Detroit Pistons purchased a plane in 1987. Lumpkin validated Barkley's account, putting to rest any doubts about its authenticity, as Barkley expressed disbelief that anyone would fabricate such a story.

Beyond the jersey incident, Barkley shared another consequence of flying commercial: he occasionally suffered from a stiff arm because elderly passengers would fall asleep leaning on his shoulder during flights. Out of respect for his elders, he refrained from moving them, leading to discomfort that trainers would question upon arrival in the next city.

In contrast to the past, today's NBA stars benefit from private flights, extra uniforms, and hotel services, eliminating such hardships and highlighting the evolution of player travel conditions in the league.