Charles Barkley calls out Kevin Durant and Devin Booker’s leadership for Phoenix Suns ‘weak mentality’

The Phoenix Suns will need to win atleast one play-in game to qualify for postseason.

Charles Barkley calls out Kevin Durant and Devin Booker’s leadership for Phoenix Suns ‘weak mentality’

Charles Barkley questions Kevin Durant and Devin Booker's leadership qualities

The Phoenix Suns have had a roller coaster of a season so far. After being touted as the favorites to win it all, the superstar-laden squad is languishing in the play-in spots. For Charles Barkley, a former Suns legend himself, this disappointment has led him to question the leadership of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

12 News caught up with Charles Barkley during the NCAA Championship game. When asked if the Suns could figure it out as the playoffs approach, Barkley replied with no hope. He alluded to the lack of mental toughness as the reason for the struggles. 

No, they're not gonna figure it out. They don't have any mental toughness. The leaders are not leading. You're not going to turn it on, this late in the season. So, I'm not sure what you're expecting, but they are weak mentally. It's not going good for them. They just really soft. Players have not led.
Charles Barkley via 12 News
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The Hall of Famer suggested that it was too late for them to fix their issues. Without mentioning names, it was clear he was targeting superstars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker for not providing the leadership.

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Barkley roots for the Phoenix Suns and was excited for his former team after the conclusion of the off-season. Even then, the ‘Round Mound of Rebound’ had earlier questioned Durant’s ability to lead the team to success. It now seems that his prophecy is coming true as the Suns are struggling in 7th, with other teams snapping at their heels with two games to go.

Barkley believed that the Suns have a plethora of good players and a head coach with a championship-winning pedigree. However, the lack of on-court leadership has hampered them so far. Only time will tell if they can somehow have a deep post-season run.

Phoenix Suns can still have a deep playoff run

With the playoffs fast approaching, there is a probability that the Suns stay in 7th place. This means they will have to face the 8th seed in a play-in game. Winning that means that the Suns can lock in 7th place. Staying in 7th means they can avoid playing the Denver Nuggets in the 1st round if the reigning champions finish first.

The experience of Durant, Beal, and Booker could help them move on to the 2nd round against a younger team. In the 2nd round, they could face any of the teams who are in the middle of the conference. Having beaten them all at least once in the season, the Suns could round them out and move on to the conference Finals.

That itself should be a good enough return in their first year together as a super team. Moreover, this is the best possible result for them considering how much they struggled this season. By any chance, if the Suns don’t make the playoffs, the basketball world will come down hard on Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.

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