NBA: Charles Barkley says he's dropped over 60 pounds - down from 352 to 290 - on diabetes drug

Once known as the Round Mound of Rebound, Charles Barkley claims to have lost around 60 pounds taking the controversial diabetes drug, Mounjaro.

As the Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA on TNT analyst told YouTube host Pat McAfee, he's been on the drug for sixth months.

'It's been amazing,' he told McAfee. 'My doctor, she is amazing. I know a lot of people take Ozempic, but my doctor prefers Mounjaro. I started at 352, and I'm down to 290... It's been great, I've been starting to feel like a human being — not a fat-a** anymore... I want to lose — I can't get to my playing weight, which was 250 – but I'm gonna get to 270.'

Mounjaro and Ozempic, both injectable drugs, were designed to treat diabetes, but have also been prescribed by doctors 'off label' to fight obesity, with encouraging results and some controversy. 

Critics are concerned that the drugs' use for obesity will lead to shortages and price hikes for diabetes patients. Furthermore, some patients have struggled with their insulin levels after coming off Ozempic, according to a number of reports.

Barkley is seen, left, in July of 2022, and, right, in April at a March Madness Music Festival

Barkley (left) kicks up his feet during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday

Speaking with McAfee on Friday, Barkley seemed unbothered with any of those details.

'I have zero idea what it does,' Barkley said.

The 60-year-old Barkley said he's trying to prolong his life, which led him to discuss treatment with his doctor.

'My doctor told me,' Barkley began, 'There's a lot of fat, young people. There aren't a lot of fat, old people. They're all dead.'

Barkley's weight problem isn't exactly new.

He was a remarkable athlete despite carrying some extra heft over his 16-year career with the 76ers, Suns and Rockets.

Barkley is seen, left, in 2022, and, right, as a forward at Auburn sometime in 1984 or earlier

But as he told McAfee, it was after a recent hip surgery that he really began to gain weight, which caused him some alarm.

'I gained a lot of weight when I got my new hips, and I was like, 'Yo man, I want to be here,'' Barkley said.

'I'm working out. I'm taking my shot once a week. Like I said, I'm gonna get down to 270.'

And it wouldn't be a Barkley story without some snarky humor: 'Man, I want to be here — I don't want to leave all my money to my freeloading-a** family.'