Charles Barkley will spend five days in jail, starting March 21. (Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley must spent five days in jail in March.
Barkley, 46, pleaded guilty Monday to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol in Scottsdale, Ariz.
He will begin a five-day jail sentence on March 21.
In addition, he was fined more than $2,000 US, ordered to attend an alcohol treatment program and have an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle.
"I always knew I would have to do time," Barkley said. "It is not something I'm worried about.
"I'm not even thinking about it. When it happens, it happens."
Barkley, who played in the NBA from 1984-2000, was pulled over by police after he left a Scottsdale nightclub on New Year's Eve and arrested when he failed a sobriety test.
"I made a mistake and just have to take the beatdown," he said. "It is what it is [and] it is 100 per cent my fault."
Barkley, who is a TNT basketball commentator, returned to work last Thursday and publicly apologized for the incident.
"Clearly, everybody knows I got a DUI," he said on the television broadcast. "That is unacceptable, 100 per cent my fault.
"I screwed up, I made a mistake. I'm sorry, I apologize.
"First of all, every person who is drunk thinks it is OK to drive," Barkley said. "But seriously, if you have a drink, seriously think about it.
"If I have had a glass of wine or a beer, that is different. But if I had something to drink, I will seriously think and not get behind the wheel."
Barkley was a 54.1 per cent shooter as a pro, averaging 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 36.7 minutes in 1,073 appearances over 16 NBA seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.
A nine-time all-star, he was named the league's most valuable player in 1993 and helped Team USA win Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996.
With files from the Associated Press
