Charles Barkley Has Strict Rules for People on Dating Apps

Former NBA star Charles Barkley has takes on most things, and in the era of online dating, his take-range extends to dating apps.

In a recent podcast episode of The Steam Room with Ernie Johnson, Barkley offered his candid opinion on how people present themselves on the apps.

"First of all, these dating apps—none of these people look like they're supposed to look," Barkley said. "You can't show a picture when you were hot in high school or college. The picture has to be within a three-month window. Don't put a picture when you used to be hot and you're not anymore."

Barkley added that he thinks people should put together an entertaining profile, rather than hitting on the things that everybody likes to do.

"Stop putting boring stuff on there," he said. "'I like movies, I like to shop.'"

Finally, don't try to be relatable by including something like a pet in your photo if you are trying to impress Barkley. Johnson, who is adept at winding Barkley up while maintaining a straight face and demeanor, asked the former Phoenix Suns star about including a puppy in the picture.

"Nobody saw a hot chick and say, 'Hey, what about the dog?'" Barkley said. "Nobody ever said, 'Look at that ugly girl with the cute dog in the picture. Let me click her.'"

Barkley has been married to his wife, Maureen Blumhardt, since 1989. In addition, Barkley played 16 seasons in the NBA and was an 11-time All-NBA selection. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 and has been a TNT broadcaster, along with Johnson and Kenny Smith, since 2000.

Meanwhile, Barkley's interest in dating content isn't just limited to apps. According to Draymond Green in a 2021 episode of his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, Barkley would watch dating shows during games while other hosts prepared to be on live television.

"Chuck f****** sits there and texts, he sits there and talks s***. The game's going on, you're kind of sitting in the back, I'm sitting there watching, taking notes, jotting stuff down in my phone, sending stuff to the producer, getting ready for my segment," Green said. "Chuck's over here f****** watching a dating show, and I'm like, 'This f****** guy is sitting here watching a dating show, and meanwhile, he's going to go out here and we're going to talk basketball, and he knows everything that's going on.' It's like this uncanny ability."