In a recent interview, Charles Barkley, known for his candidness and controversial statements, took aim at Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant. The former Suns star, now a prominent media figure, didn’t mince words when discussing Durant’s leadership abilities.
During an appearance on Fox Sports 910’s Roc and Manuch with Jimmy B, Barkley was asked about the Suns and their recent roster moves. However, Barkley steered the conversation towards the issue of leadership on the team. He expressed his belief that having a strong leader is crucial for a team’s success.
Barkley stated, “It worked like that when you got Steph Curry and Draymond Green on your team… But you have to have a leader on your team… Your team is going to follow your leader, good or bad… Kevin doesn’t want to be a leader even though he’s a great player.”
This isn’t the first time Barkley has criticized Durant’s leadership qualities. During the broadcast of the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, Barkley referred to Durant as “a follower… not a leader.” Such comments have often drawn backlash from NBA players, with Durant himself responding to Barkley’s earlier remarks.
Durant has made it clear that he doesn’t appreciate outside opinions on his leadership abilities. Despite his impressive skills on the court, there seems to be a discrepancy between how others view him as a leader. Only time will tell if Durant can prove his critics wrong and emerge as a true leader on the Suns’ squad.
