PHOENIX SUNS

Charles Barkley lends an optimistic perspective about the Suns, Cardinals

May 28, 2019, 12:14 PM | Updated: 10:01 pm

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley looks on while smoking a cigar during the Julius Erving Golf Clas...

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley looks on while smoking a cigar during the Julius Erving Golf Classic at The ACE Club on September 11, 2017 in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images for PGD Global)

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images for PGD Global)

Former Suns star Charles Barkley still spends a good deal of time in Phoenix, and that permits him the opportunity to keep a close eye on the recently-lacking Valley sports scene.

So it maybe matters that the honest and always opinionated NBA analyst for TNT dropped a few positive thoughts about the state of Arizona’s two most popular sports teams when he visited Bickley & Marotta on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

For the state’s original pro sports team, the Suns, it’s about new head coach Monty Williams taking a young roster and having the time and stability to nourish it. It was most helpful that former Phoenix owner Jerry Colangelo helped push Williams to the Suns and vice versa, he said.

Current Suns owner Robert Sarver, Colangelo said, even earned a blessing from his predecessor to hire Williams, pairing him with general manager James Jones.

“It’s all going to come down to Robert, whether he lets these guys do their jobs,” Barkley said Tuesday. “The Suns, man, they are really close. I know they got an awful record (last year) and all this turmoil going on, but man, they are so close to being a good team.

“They got some talent, some really good talent. They can’t fire a general manager two weeks before the season started, firing a coach after one year. These kids are so young … they don’t even get to talk about basketball. It’s so much noise going around the organization, you can’t even concentrate.”

Barkley hopes that the rumors and reports of Sarver’s micromanaging are stories of the past.

He likewise has a hopeful attitude when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals. They fired first-year head coach Steve Wilks after closing 2018 with a 3-13 record, then made the nontraditional hire of first-time NFL head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Kingsbury has dined with Barkley, the latter said.

“I’m a big Kliff Kingsbury fan, I’m not going to lie,” Barkley told Bickley & Marotta. “Everybody’s going to talk about wins and losses. He was at Texas Tech. He wasn’t at Texas or Auburn or Alabama. Texas Tech is only going to be so successful.

“… He was always consistent, he always scored,” Barkley added. “If the Cardinals can fix their defense and the little fella’ (quarterback Kyler Murray) can stay healthy … they shot their shot. And I would love to see Larry finish up competitively. I wanted to see the greatest player in Arizona history, in all sports … I would hate to see him finish up on a lousy team.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Presented By
Western Governors University

Phoenix Suns

Eric Gordon #10 of the LA Clippers reacts during the second half Game One of the Western Conference...

Kellan Olson

The if of the 5th: Eric Gordon as starter would give Suns offensive firepower

Does it make enough sense for the Phoenix Suns to look past defensive question marks and start Eric Gordon for the best offense?

58 minutes ago

Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire of the Suns...

Arizona Sports

36 unbothered: Shawn Marion, Amar’e Stoudemire mend relationship with Suns

Shawn Marion and Amar'e Stoudemire will go into the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor this year, finally, thanks to an ownership change.

16 hours ago

Bol Bol #10 of the Orlando Magic in action against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Unite...

Kellan Olson

The if of the 5th: Chaotic possibilities for Phoenix Suns with starting Bol Bol

The Phoenix Suns would be embracing chaos by using Bol Bol as a fifth starter, an idea that has both serious pros and cons.

21 hours ago

Yuta Watanabe #18 and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets react during the third quarter against t...

Kellan Olson

The if of the 5th: Yuta Watanabe would maximize Phoenix Suns’ spacing

Yuta Watanabe as the fifth starter would make the Phoenix Suns' offense even more nuclear but bring more questions defensively.

2 days ago

Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns looks on in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at G...

Arizona Sports

Deandre Ayton posts love for the Valley as Portland beckons

A little more than 24 hours since he was traded to the Portland Trailblazers, Dominayton sent his thanks to the Valley via Instagram.

2 days ago

Josh Okogie, Phoenix Suns...

Kevin Zimmerman

The if of the 5th: Josh Okogie’s on-ball duties could be Suns’ priority

Will Josh Okogie be the Phoenix Suns' fifth starter? His on-ball defense is something Frank Vogel will like.

2 days ago

Charles Barkley lends an optimistic perspective about the Suns, Cardinals