Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker shared the stage with franchise legend Charles Barkley at a Hall of Fame event, praising the NBA's pioneers while Barkley made an emphatic pledge to remain in the Valley for life. The heartfelt moment comes as the Suns handle a tough stretch, having lost four of their last five games including a 122-131 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 28.
Booker and Barkley appeared together on a panel moderated by Dan Bickley of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's Colangelo Golf Classic dinner on September 17. They were joined by former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo. The event was packed with basketball royalty, including Julius Erving, Paul Pierce, Gary Payton, Bernard King, Mike D'Antoni, Diana Taurasi, and Sheryl Swoopes.
Booker, entering his 12th season with the Suns, spoke about feeling the weight of history in the room. "You feel it upon entry, right when you get in the room," Booker said. "I'm a sponge to every story that Charles has to say." The 29-year-old guard emphasized his gratitude for the legends who expanded the game globally.
Barkley's declaration was both profane and passionate. "I'm never gonna leave," he yelled during the discussion. He elaborated with his signature humor, stating, "Counting is not my strong suit, so I'm not sure how long '92 was ago."
He credited the people in the room and his deep connection to the community forged after his 1992 trade from Philadelphia. Barkley won the NBA MVP award in 1993 and led the Suns to the Finals that same year. His affinity for Phoenix and Jerry Colangelo was the core of his message. "That's why I love Phoenix, and I'm never gonna leave!" he concluded.
The team's current form provides a stark contrast to the celebratory event. Their recent record shows just one win in their last five outings, a sequence of L-L-L-L-W. This slump includes consecutive losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder, with scores of 122-131 on April 28, 109-121 on April 25, and 120-107 on April 23.
They also fell 119-84 to the Thunder on April 19. Their sole recent victory was a decisive 135-103 win over Oklahoma City back on April 13. Before that, they suffered a heavy 101-73 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 11.
The panel highlighted the strong parallels between the two Suns icons. Both led Phoenix to the NBA Finals, both have their own Nike signature shoe lines, and both played at SEC schools-Booker at Kentucky, Barkley at Auburn. Critically, both have publicly committed to being Valley residents for life despite not being Arizona natives.
Booker directly addressed the legends in attendance, hoping they felt his appreciation. "When I get to look these guys in the eye, we call them the OGs in our generation, I hope they feel the love and what they've done for me and my career," Booker said. "They've paved the way. They've grown the game to what it has become."
He acknowledged the international growth of basketball, stating it "wouldn't be that without these guys laying the groundwork." This sense of legacy and respect forms a bridge between the Suns' past success and its future aspirations. The team will need to channel that history as they work to reverse their recent on-court struggles.
