Charles Barkley blamed his lack of discipline in the 1989-90 season on 'hanging around' with Rick Mahorn: 'I'm guilty by association'

Charles Barkley was never one to shy away from controversy on the court. However, during the 1989-90 NBA season, the legendary forward managed to outdo even his own reputation, racking up quite a list of antics by February of that year.

True to form, "Chuck," who was always good for a self-deprecating joke, had a humorous explanation at the ready. He playfully pinned the blame on a teammate who had joined his team, the Philadelphia 76ers, a few months earlier.

"It's from hanging around with Rick Mahorn. I'm guilty by association," Barkley quipped about his misdeeds at the time, per the Tampa Bay Times.

The Mahorn method

With just a few weeks remaining in that season, "The Round Mound of Rebound" had already racked up quite a record: $15,300 in fines, 16 technical fouls, and three-game ejections.

Interestingly, the last two figures (technical fouls and ejections) were identical for the previously mentioned Mahorn. The fact that these numbers also applied to the 76ers' big man probably didn't come as a shock to anyone.

After all, "Ricky" was well-known for his physical, often excessive style of play and became one of the most formidable enforcers in NBA history. This reputation was largely built during his time with the late 1980s Detroit Pistons, famously dubbed "The Bad Boys."

Their tendency, including Mahorn's in particular, to occasionally push the rules over their limits resulted in two championship titles. The Connecticut native aptly summarized this all-in approach by stating he does "what it takes to win."

The impact of Philly's aggressive duo

One could argue that the Sixers' frontcourt of Mahorn and Barkley, being so vocal and aggressive on the court, didn't set the best example as role models–something the latter often said he didn't want to be anyway.

However, their tough reputation had a significant upside. The addition of veteran Mahorn was described as "exactly what Philadelphia needed."

The 6'10" big man showed his usual physical presence, and his ability to disrupt opponents in the paint made it much harder for teams to score easily. While this impact was particularly visible beyond individual stats, it significantly improved the team's defense compared to the previous year.

Moreover, this allowed Barkley to play with more freedom, knowing his new teammate had "his back covered," as Philadelphia's then-director of player personnel, Bob Weinhauer, remarked.

"Sir Charles" made the most of this opportunity, delivering an impressive regular season. The future Hall of Famer's performance was so strong that he finished second in MVP voting, just behind Magic Johnson, with averages of 25.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.

Another advantage of the Sixers duo's aggressive court behavior was that they ultimately"agreed to donate $1,000 per technical to a charity of the other's choice, so there was a true silver lining after all.