Could you imagine Dirk Nowitzki in an Auburn uniform?

If it were up to Charles Barkley, the scenario would have played out, even if it would have been illegal.

The NBA analyst and former Auburn star joined The Pat McAfee Show and told the story of being overseas and playing against a young Nowitzki, who was playing in Germany at the time.

Barkley did his best to recruit Nowitzki to the Plains.

“I met Dirk Nowitzki and tried to pay him to come to Auburn,” Barkley said. “It was illegal, but I didn’t give a damn. Not gonna lie.

“We played in Germany, and I got Scottie Pippen, who is a great defender. I got Horace Grant (and) a couple of other NBA players, and we played this German team.

“Dirk’s got like 35 at half. And at this time Scottie was considered a great defender. This dude finished with like 52 points.”

Here’s how Barkley remembers the conversation after the game:

“I said, ‘Yo man, who are you?’

“He said, ‘My name is Dirk Nowitzki.’

“I said, ‘Do you wanna go to Auburn? I’ll take care of that.’

“He says, ‘I gotta go in the Army.’

“I said, ‘Dude, you’re 7 feet tall. You’re not going in the damn Army.’”

Nowitzki, of course, was a 14-time all-star for the Dallas Mavericks, leading the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA title in which he won the MVP.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.