Retired NBA Star Charles Barkley Claims ‘a Bunch’ of Professional Athletes Are Privately Gay

Following the loss of Jason Collins — the first openly gay NBA player who recently died at age 47 — Charles Barkley is claiming there are many other homosexual professional athletes.

“Thirteen years ago it was a big deal,” Kenny Smith said of Collins coming out as gay on the May 2013 cover of Sports Illustrated during the Tuesday, May 12, episode of NBA Tip-Off. “The reason why it doesn’t feel as big now at times is because of people like [Collins].”

“It would still be a big deal,” Barkley, 63, claimed. “We live in a homophobic society. Anybody who thinks we ain’t got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they’re just stupid.”

“There is such an animosity towards the gay community,” the former Houston Rockets player added.

In December 2025, the former New Jersey Nets star revealed he was diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma. He tragically died at his home in Los Angeles on May 12, 2026.

Barkley — who played 16 years in the NBA before retiring in 2000 — previously defended the LGBTQ+ community after fans called for a boycott of Bud Light after the company partnered with influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

“If you’re gay, God bless you. If you’re trans, God bless you. And if you have a problem with them — f— you,” Barkley said during a July 2023 American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament, per Mediaite.