Charles Barkley has always been very critical of Kevin DurantThe NBA Hall of Famer has never shied away from expressing his true feelings about the 14-time All-Star, and Barkley is even more critical of Durant since he plays for the team. Phoenix Suns.
When Durant was traded to the Suns, the rest of the league was put on notice, as Phoenix and new owner Mat Ishbia were determined to win a championship. After all, this team came so close to winning a title in 2021, which is why pulling off a trade for Durant was monumental. However, success isn’t necessarily the word that best describes the product the Suns put on the court in the 2023-24 season, as they were ousted from the playoffs in the first round.
Phoenix added talent to their roster this offseason, and they still have their three-headed monster in Durant, Devin Bookerand Bradley Beal. That’s why many still believe the Suns can be favorites for the title in the West. At the same time, Barkley is one of the few who still doubts his former club, especially since he claims Durant is not the leader his team needs.
“I don’t think Kevin Durant wants to be a leader. He just wants to play basketball, and that’s great, but somebody on this team has to step up and be the leader,” Barkley told FOX Sports 910 AM in Phoenix. “It worked in Golden State because they had Steph Curry and Draymond Green to lead. But in Phoenix, somebody has to step up and be the leader, and in my opinion, it has to be Devin Booker. You can’t have a team without a leader.”
“Kevin just wants to play basketball, and that’s great, but Devin has to take on that leadership role if he wants to win a championship.”
When two or more All-Stars are on a team, it can be difficult to determine leadership roles and who ends up being the one to step aside. Last season, Beal ended up being the one to step aside in order to allow Durant and Booker to find more success. Despite being a three-time All-Star and a top-tier offensive weapon, Beal acknowledged that his team would be more successful if he were the third guy on offense instead of THE a guy for the Suns.
These are decisions that leaders make, which is why Barkley explained that he wants to see more of Durant, and especially Booker, in the 2024-25 season when it comes to the leadership role.
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“You don’t get to choose, to say, ‘I don’t want to be a leader.’ You have to be a leader. But Kevin said it, and he gets mad every time somebody says that, but in my opinion, it has to be Devin Booker.”
It is interesting to note that both Durant and Booker were part of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at this year’s Olympics. Durant, who is a proven champion and future Hall of Famer, has enjoyed success and been a leader with multiple teams throughout his career. Booker, on the other hand, has spent his entire career with the Suns and is still at the peak of his career.
That’s the main motivation behind Barkley challenging him to become the leader the Suns need. After all, he was the main reason Phoenix reached the 2021 NBA Finals not too long ago.
