'I had to take some medications for depression' - Charles Barkley on his reaction to his daughter not pursuing basketball

"I had her play volleyball, soccer, and basketball," Barkley said. "And I said, 'Christina, can I ask you a question? Do you like sports? She says, 'Dad, I hate sports. So I couldn't cry in front of her, so I just gave her a hug."

"But she's such a wonderful person. It was traumatic because I spent her whole childhood thinking, jump hooks, I'm going to hook her up with Kevin McHale; he's going to teach her the up and under and all, and she's going to be killing all these college girls, and then she was like, 'Dad, I don't like sports," he continued.

This revelation was a crushing blow for Barkley. His vision of his daughter mastering post moves and hitting game-winning jumpers evaporated in an instant. Despite the disappointment, Charles took the news in stride, showing a humility that contrasts with the high expectations often associated with sports legends.

Supporting separate paths

Chuck's daughter ultimately chose a different path, one far removed from the bright lights of basketball courts, even though it wasn't an easy adjustment for her father.

"My daughter is a great person. I struggled in the beginning with her because she went to Villanova. She's a great person; she's a great mom. Being a grandpa is the greatest thing in the world. But I'll tell you, I had to take some medications for depression because my daughter had a great body; she was six feet tall when she was like three [feet tall], and I was like, 'I'm going to have the best female basketball player in the world," Barkley said.

In hindsight, the former Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns power forward found joy in Christina's accomplishments and his grandfather's role.

The story highlights a broader issue in the sports world. The children of athletes often face immense pressure to follow in their parent's footsteps, sometimes ending with mixed results, from Michael Jordan's sons, Jeffrey and Marcus, who struggled to make waves in the sport, to Shaquille O'Neal's son, Shareef, who has faced significant setbacks in pursuing an NBA career.

Even now, the scrutiny surrounding LeBron's efforts to prepare his son for the NBA spotlight reminds us of the challenges second-generation athletes encounter. It's not about forcing a child into a mold but about allowing them to thrive in what they truly love.