PHOENIX SUNS

Lindsay Whalen chooses Suns’ Charles Barkley as Hall of Fame presenter

Sep 10, 2022, 1:30 PM

Point Guard Lindsay Whalen is getting inducted into Pro Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday and will have legendary Phoenix Suns forward Charles Barkley be one of her presenters at the ceremony.

Whalen is the current head coach of the Minnesota Gophers women’s basketball team, her alma mater, and chose Barkley because he was her favorite player as she actually grew up a fan of the Suns as a young girl.

“When it came time to pick, I said I was going to go big or go home and ask Charles,” Whalen told reporters Friday. “He got back to me about a day later.”

Whalen is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and was the WNBA’s all-time leader in wins (323) after playing 15 seasons in the league until she was passed by Sue Bird in June.

She averaged 11.5 points per game, 4.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds on her way to five All-Star Game appearances and four championships.

Each Hall of Fame inductee is required to pick a minimum of two current hall of famers for the ceremony.

Whalen chose fellow PG and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley as her second presenter.

The Minnesota head coach reportedly got in contact with Barkley because the general manager of the Gophers went to Auburn, where Barkley played college ball, and was able to get his number, according to Sports Illustrated’s Joe Nelson.

Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant...

Alex Weiner

Suns’ Kevin Durant to return on Tuesday, Bradley Beal remains out

Kevin Durant will return to the Phoenix Suns' lineup on Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies after a three-game absence.

5 hours ago

Kevin Durant, Suns...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ Kevin Durant understands ‘microscope’ will be on him for deadline fallout

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant addressed the reports that the Phoenix Suns attempted to trade him before the trade deadline.

6 hours ago

ESPN's Brian Windhorst has the Suns as one of the five teams facing the most pressure post-NBA trad...

Tyler Drake

Windhorst: Suns among teams facing the most pressure post-NBA trade deadline

The Phoenix Suns are among a handful of teams facing an added amount of pressure following last week's NBA trade deadline.

13 hours ago

Suns...

Kellan Olson

Shorthanded Suns hit wall offensively in loss to Nuggets

It was a steep uphill climb for the shorthanded Phoenix Suns on the second night of a back-to-back.

2 days ago

Bol Bol...

Damon Allred

Suns’ Bol Bol throws wild behind-the-back pass, sets up Damion Lee 3-pointer

Bol Bol took advantage of early minutes against the Nuggets by throwing a wild behind-the-back pass for an assist and following it up with a dunk.

2 days ago

Tom Izzo...

Associated Press

Tom Izzo ties Bob Knight’s Big Ten record with Mat Ishbia on hand for championship reunion

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo tied Bob Knight's Big Ten record for wins with Suns owner Mat Ishbia among the former champions attending for their team reunion.

2 days ago

Lindsay Whalen chooses Suns’ Charles Barkley as Hall of Fame presenter