Former NBA star Charles Barkley sits onstage as he is introduced as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2006 in Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday. - Reuters

SPRINGFIELD,

Massachusetts (AP):

CHARLES BARKLEY played the comedian during his induction into the U.S. Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.

But, behind the scenes, he also sounded a lot like a role model.

He drew laughs by thanking his financial adviser for protecting his money, but threw in a little advice for today's players.

"I tell all these young kids, the money you make, save it, put it in the bank. That money has to last you the rest of your lifetime, don't waste it," he said.

Selfish style

At the pre-induction news conference, he also took those players to task for a selfish style, and pointed to his own highlight films for those looking for an example of how the game should be played.

"I always tried as hard as I possibly could," Barkley said. "I like seeing that on tape. Today, they want to be stars. They don't want to be great players. We wanted to be great players."

Barkley was enshrined with two other NBA greats, Dominique Wilkins and Joe Dumars, Italian coach Sandro Gamba, former U.S. college commissioner Dave Gavitt, and University of Connecticut women's coach Geno Auriemma.

Barkley averaged 22 points and almost 12 rebounds in 16 NBA seasons that included stops in Philadelphia, Phoenix and Houston. But it was his charismatic personality and outspoken style that made him a superstar.

He put that style on display on Friday, with one liners about not finishing his college education and being arrested several times.

"I was always acquitted," he said.

But there was a message behind the humour.

He made headlines in a 1993 Nike television spot, when he solemnly warned the audience, "I am not a role model ... parents should be role models."

He said on Friday that he was proud he started that conversation, and believes he is supposed to do great things with the fame that basketball has given him.

"Basketball is really important and significant in my life, but it's the least important thing," he said. "When I was able to give a million dollars to buy houses for the (Hurricane Katrina) evacuees, that was more important to me than anything I ever accomplished on the basketball court."

Dumars was the good guy on the Bad Boys, the Detroit Pistons teams in 1989 and 1990 that won NBA championships, and also included more high-profile stars, such as Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman.