​​The Wild Story Behind Why Travis Kelce Went As ‘Charles’ As A Kid And Why Charles Barkley Also Wanted To Be Called ‘Travis’

by

Day by day, Travis Kelce grabs headlines, whether it’s his Kansas City Chiefs edging closer to their third consecutive Super Bowl win or his relationship with Taylor Swift, a year and a half strong, keeping Swifties everywhere on the edge in anticipation of an engagement. On the other hand, Jason Kelce has ventured into broadcasting since retirement, and he recently shared a humorous tale about his brother pretending to be named “Charles” when he was young, imitating basketball legend Charles Barkley. Interestingly enough, it appears that the NBA star had desired to be called “Travis.” Here’s an examination of this bizarre connection.

As A Child, Travis Kelce Told People His Name Was ‘Charles’

Travis Kelce is an endless source of delight for fans, and it’s fortunate that his brother, Jason, frequently appears in the 2025 TV lineup with entertaining tales from their childhood. The Twitter account for New Heights shared a video clip of Jason discussing Travis on ESPN’s Postseason NFL Countdown, prior to the Chiefs’ playoff game against the Texans on January 18 (a game that Kansas City went on to win). In the interview, Jason spoke fondly about his brother.

Travis was the kind of boy who emulated his sports heroes, and on this particular occasion, he decided to adopt the name of his favorite basketball player, Charles Barkley. This amusing act took place during a block party, where he introduced himself as “Charles” to everyone, earning him the nickname among the other parents who were present. In essence, Travis was always striving to embody the traits and personas of his sporting idols.

As a film enthusiast, I can only envision the heartwarming response Mrs. Donna Kelce must’ve had when overhearing her neighbors discussing “Charles.” It’s adorable that Travis chose to pay tribute to his basketball hero in such a unique manner. Moreover, it’s important to clarify that he wasn’t asking anyone to address him as “The Round Mound of Rebound” or even “Sir Charles,” titles bestowed upon the two-time Olympic gold medalist by the world.

The story doesn’t end there, as it was discovered that the host of Inside the NBA had a fondness for the name Travis Kelce in the past.

Charles Barkley Asked To Change His Name To ‘Travis’

I’m glad I got the chance to meet Charles Barkley, or else we wouldn’t have discovered their delightful name game! It was on an episode of New Heights back in June 2023 that the Kelce brothers shared the story behind Travis’ unofficial childhood nickname. Charles added a twist with his own recollection, making their friendly banter all the more intriguing.

It was hilarious that the star basketball player at my high school was a fellow named Travis Abernathy, who had been outstanding since junior high. Everyone adored Travis. On the other hand, I was named after my grandfather. As I began to excel at basketball, I jokingly suggested to my mother, “Mom, what do you think about me changing my name to Travis?” She replied, “What on earth are you talking about? Charles won’t cut it!” She then said, “That’s your grandfather’s name.” To which I responded, “Yeah, and he’s insignificant! That’s a perfect illustration.” In this rephrased version, the text conveys the same sentiment with a more natural and easy-to-read flow.

Oh dear, poor Grandpa getting into trouble! That’s truly excessive, especially considering Charles Barkley saying that his grandmother used to illustrate why “Charles won’t succeed.” To this very day, Barkley still cherishes the nickname, as he added on.

I love the name Travis. It’s just like, you got to be able to play some, if your name Travis.

It’s quite an impressive statement for Travis Kelce to hear, and he undoubtedly wants to make Charles Barkley’s words come true as he gears up to play against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 26. This event will be broadcasted on CBS, with a Paramount+ subscription for live streaming.

Read More

2025-01-21 22:07