Charles Barkley shares story of Tom Brady giving him a $250,000 watch

"[Brady] and Wayne Gretzky are the two nicest GOATs I've ever been around."

Charles Barkley holds Tom Brady in high regard. Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images for The Match)

June 2, 2024

2 minutes to read

Tom Brady built a reputation as an intense competitor on the gridiron during his 23-year NFL career.

But off the field, the former Patriots quarterback has cultivated an impressive network of friends and acquaintances across several sports and ventures.

Count NBA Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Charles Barkley among those who hold Brady in high regard, especially when it comes to his generosity and demeanor away from football.

“[Brady] and Wayne Gretzky are the two nicest GOATs [Greatest of All-Time] I’ve ever been around,” Barkley said during the latest episode of the “SI Media” podcast with Jimmy Traina.

During the podcast, Barkley brushed aside talk of any broadcasting advice he might have for Brady before he takes over as Fox’s lead NFL color commentator for the 2024 season.

Instead, Barkley shared a story of why he views Brady in such a positive light, especially after an impromptu gift doled out by the former signal-caller during a golf course meet-up.

“As a matter of fact, see this watch here? I’ve been offered $250,000 for this watch,” Barkley said.”So I’m broadcasting one of The Matches, probably four or five years ago, I make a nice comment about this watch and this watch is a pretty penny. I’m talking double-digit thousands. I said, ‘That’s a nice watch.’

“[Brady] says, ‘Thanks, Chuck,’ blah blah blah. We do the broadcast for another two or three hours. One of Tom’s boys comes up to me and he says, ‘Hey Tom is looking for you.’ … I go up [to the clubhouse] and I say, ‘Tom, what’s up?’ And he says, ‘Chuck, take my watch.’ I go, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Tom, I’m just saying you have a nice watch.’

“[He says], ‘I appreciate the compliment,’ and he just gives me this watch. A couple of collectors have offered me $250,000 for it. I wouldn’t sell it for any amount. That’s what a guy Tom is. Him and Wayne Gretzky for being the GOATs of their sports are two of the nicest, most humble guys I ever met.”

Even though Barkley admitted that he didn’t want the watch, he wasn’t going to push back after Brady insisted on the gift.

“I didn’t want him to think I gave him a compliment on the watch because I wanted the watch,” Barkley added. “It was a nice watch. I said, ‘Tom, you don’t have to do that.’ But when he said it a second time, I said thank you.”

Considering Brady and Barkley’s friendship, perhaps the NBA legend will make an appearance alongside the other “former teammates and special guests” set to be in attendance for Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame Ceremony at Gillette Stadium on June 12.