| After a 41-41 season in Phoenix in 1996, the | | | | again, he made a comeback a little over four months |
| struggling team was again traded, this time to the | | | | later for a single game, scoring one basket in April of |
| Houston Rockets. As a player here, Barkley had back | | | | 2000, then immediately retiring.Barkley was a |
| injuries, causing his decision to retire in 2000. During | | | | household name and one of the limited number of |
| this final season, after playing nineteen games, he | | | | NBA players to earn a figure in the Starting Lineup |
| tore his left quadriceps tendon completely away | | | | toy line, as well as earning his own shoe line created |
| from his kneecap (December 8, 1999). Though | | | | by Nike. |
| doctors told him he would never play basketball | | | | |