How Certain Sports Superstars Changed the Rules of the Game

Five seconds can feel surprisingly long when a 250-pound Charles Barkley is slowly pushing a defender toward the rim. Though he stood only around 6-foot-6, Barkley had the lower-body strength to establish position against much taller frontcourt players, then dribble with his back to the basket while patiently moving them where he wanted. Other players, notably Mark Jackson, made heavy use of the same tactic, and possessions could become a slow-motion wrestling match while the shot clock disappeared. The NBA addressed it in 1999.