22 Stars the Dallas Mavericks missed drafting by a single pick

13. Charles Barkley

With the No. 4 pick of the 1984 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks selected Sam Perkins out of the University of North Carolina. Perkins was a star next to Michael Jordan at North Carolina, and now he had the chance to hold down the paint in Dallas for years to come.

Perkins had a great rookie year for the Mavs and ended up playing six seasons for Dallas, averaging 14.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game, but the player who was selected directly after him ended up having a much better NBA career, and his addition to that Mavs squad would have changed everything.

Charles Barkley was selected with the No. 5 overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, and he ended up having a hall-of-fame career for the 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets. Barkley averaged 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 54.1 percent from the field.

Barkley was a monster down low, and his rebounding was always phenomenal. He was dominant for his entire career, and he even won the NBA MVP in 1993. Other accolades include him being in the Hall of Fame as well as making 11 All-Star Games and being selected to 11 All-NBA Teams.

Barkley in Dallas would have been a sight to see, but Perkins wasn't an awful alternative. Barkley is now an analyst for TNT, and he is seemingly always talking about the Mavs.