“Charles Barkley, a three-time NBA MVP and 14-time All Star point guard with the Phoenix Suns during their championship season in 1993. After struggling early on that year, Barkley decided he would be willing to sacrifice his body for team success.”
The “charles barkley suns” is a team that was led by Charles Barkley. The Phoenix Suns were not expected to do well in the NBA Playoffs, but they ended up winning their first ever NBA Finals Championship.
Charles Barkley is regarded as one of the best basketball players in history. He’s undoubtedly one of the best power forwards in history, but his résumé is marred by the absence of a title.
Barkley had a terrific career and was a part of several great teams, but he only made it to the NBA Finals once. In the 1993 NBA Finals, Barkley’s Suns met Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, as most fans are aware.
These fans very probably recall Jordan’s Bulls defeating Barkley’s Suns 4-2 on a game-winning three by John Paxson. “Do fans remember Barkley’s stunning performance that secured the Suns a berth in the 1993 NBA Finals?” I wonder.
The Game 7 Performance of Charles Barkley
In the Western Conference Finals of 1993, the Phoenix Suns faced the Seattle SuperSonics. Barkley had had a fantastic Game 5 performance, scoring 43 points, collecting 15 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists for a postseason triple-double.
This was an all-time great performance, but Barkley’s effort in the highly stressed, must-win Game 7 could have trumped it. The series was on the line, with a chance to go to the NBA Finals on the line, and Barkley was coming off a poor Game 6 performance in which he scored just 13 points.
The SuperSonics were on their way to their first NBA Finals, headed by Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, but Barkley had other ideas.
In Game 7, Charles Barkley looked like a man facing a gaggle of youngsters. Barkley would not be stopped in this game, no matter who was protecting him.
Barkley tormented the SuperSonics’ players from the low post and drove them to the mid-range. He demonstrated why he was awarded MVP of the regular season in 1992-93.
Barkley had a double-double with 44 points and 24 rebounds. He made 12 of 20 shots from the field and 19 of 22 free throws.
After the game, Barkley remarked, “I made up my decision to take over at the beginning of the third quarter.” “They’ve been murdering us the whole series in the third quarter.”
Danny Ainge, Barkley’s teammate, had this to say about Barkley’s outstanding performance:
“I don’t know how to describe Charles Barkley other than to say he’s a guy.” He was rough on those guys tonight. What is Shawn Kemp’s nickname? The adolescent? Charles is simply a regular guy.”
Barkley was asked about his views on meeting the Bulls in the NBA Finals after the Game 7 victory:
“I’m not thinking about the Bulls at the moment.” I’m going to fetch a six-pack of beer, relax in my Jacuzzi, and have some fun right now.”
Barkley was never afraid to tell it how it was. This, along with his tremendous Game 7 performance, has made him one of the most popular NBA players and one of the best players of all time.
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