Charles Barkley invited Mike Wells to watch a Sweet Sixteen game on his private jet in 1999. The game featured Barkley's alma mater, Auburn, against Wells' hometown favorite, Ohio State.
What happened?
The phone call from Charles Barkley came roughly three hours before the scheduled tipoff between the Buckeyes and Tigers inside Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team was a few hours away from a Sweet Sixteen showdown when Mike Wells’ phone rang. It was 1999, and the central Ohio native was in his fifth season as video coordinator for the Houston Rockets.
Charles Barkley asked Wells to join him on his private jet to watch the game. Wells, a Buckeyes fan, accepted the invitation and cheered for Ohio State as they defeated Auburn 72-64.
Why it matters for Charles Barkley
The gesture showcased Charles Barkley's good nature, as he knew Wells was a Buckeyes fan and wanted to share the experience with him.
As part of a Cinderella run to the Final Four, Ohio State prevailed, setting up an Elite 8 matchup with No. 3 seed St. John’s two days later. Against Barkley’s alma mater, Scoonie Penn scored a game-high 26 points and sophomore Michael Redd added 22.
What comes next?
Now in his first year as an assistant coach at Ohio State, Wells got to spend time with Penn during the program’s annual “Vet Week” when the Buckeyes bring back former players to coach with and play against the current team.
Wells reminisced about his Ohio State fandom while growing up, and Charles Barkley's invitation to the Sweet Sixteen game remained a memorable experience for him. On 6 Jul 2026, the story of Charles Barkley's phone call to Mike Wells serves as a reminder of the NBA legend's kind gesture.
The Ohio State men's basketball team's run ended in the Final Four with a 64-58 loss to No. 1 seed Connecticut in St. Petersburg, Florida. Charles Barkley's private jet trip with Mike Wells, however, remains an unforgettable moment in their friendship.