Barkley played 16 seasons in the NBA and was MVP in 1993 and was also a member of the 1992 Dream Team that took gold at the Barcelona Olympics.

Despite averaging 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds during his time with Philadelphia, Phoenix and Houston, he never won an NBA title.

Also being inducted into the Hall of Fame will be former NBA stars Dominique Wilkins and Joe Dumars, former Italy coach Sandro Gamba, US college executive Dave Gavitt, and US college women's coach Geno Auriemma.

Barkley retired in 2000 and, given he was renowned for speaking his mind during his career, fittingly became a commentator.

USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo, who was involved in the trade that saw Barkley move from Philadelphia to Phoenix, said despite his outspoken nature, Barkley was still a champion of the game.

"With all the great players that have come and gone, not many players can compare with Charles Barkley in terms of his size and what he was able to accomplish," he told AFP.

"He became a dominant inside power player at that size and had an incredible career in terms of individual statistics."

"I didn't necessarily agree with everything he said, but I respected the fact that if he had something on his mind, he certainly let people know how he felt," Colangelo said.

"He didn't hold back any punches and that was just the way that he was and the way he is. And I don't think that will ever change."

Barkley enters the hall of fame in his first year of eligibility.

Wilkins meanwhile is the NBA's ninth all-time leading scorer with 26,668 points, and was a nine-time All-Star forward.