To say it’s been a rocky road for the Phoenix Suns this season would be putting it lightly. The squad, filled with stars, has yet to meet expectations, and fans have had enough. One voice leading the criticism train? None other than Charles Barkley. The Sixers legend hasn’t held back, pointing fingers directly at Kevin Durant. And just like that, the “KD leadership” debate is back in full swing.
During All-Star Week on TruTV, Barkley made it crystal clear where he stands. “No disrespect to Kevin. Kevin’s a follower. He’s not a leader. He’s proven that on all his stops,” Barkley said bluntly. He didn’t stop there either, adding, “Booker’s a hell of a player, also. I think he’s going to have to take the initiative and take this Suns team to the next level… for Phoenix to be successful, it has to be Booker.” While Barkley praised Durant’s skills, he clearly doesn’t see him as the locker room voice the Suns need right now.
Still, not everyone’s hopping on that train. Former Warriors star Gilbert Arenas has a totally different view. During his sit-down with DJ Vlad, the host labeled the Suns one of the biggest letdowns of the season. Gil didn’t disagree—he admitted, “It is.” But when Vlad followed up by poking at KD, Arenas wasn’t having it.
“No. Can’t blame him. Right? And I don’t like that idea when we try to blame the star. He’s doing his job. He’s the star. But he’s doing his job. Right? Right? He’s averaging 27, 28. He’s doing what he’s supposed to do,” Arenas emphasized.
He even pointed to the constant injury issues among the Suns’ big three. “He can’t play for the other ones and he can’t be healthy for the other ones… Missed four games here. Three games here. Right?” Arenas made it clear—Durant can’t carry the whole load alone.
Moreover, Gil didn’t let the front office off the hook either. “You’re talking about a team that’s built on three players when only two is here, majority of the time… So you can’t say Kevin, this is a Kevin Durant problem,” he said.
Mar 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Not only that, Gil even took a subtle jab at Barkley, flipping the leadership blame narrative.
Gilbert Arenas took short after Charles Barkley’s harsh KD comment
To no one’s surprise, Charles Barkley is back at it again—this time slamming the Phoenix Suns’ mental game and questioning their leadership, especially Kevin Durant’s. “They don’t have any mental toughness. The leaders are not leading,” Barkley said recently. While some fans might agree with Chuck’s bold take, Gilbert Arenas clearly wasn’t one of them. The ex-Warrior wasn’t buying the idea that Durant and the Suns are mentally “weak.”
In fact, just days ago on Nightcap, Arenas broke it all down with Shannon Sharpe. He pointed out that the Suns had to give up a big chunk of their depth to bring in Bradley Beal—who, unfortunately, has barely stayed healthy. Yet despite that, Durant and Booker have done everything they can to keep the team afloat. Gilbert made it clear: it’s not a leadership issue, it’s a roster problem.
But things didn’t stop there. Arenas flipped the script on Barkley himself, saying, “When were you [Charles Barkley] a leader? What year did you lead your team?… You were just a hired gun.” The shot wasn’t just about KD—it was about Barkley’s own playing days, and whether he truly led or just talked loud.
And then came the real burn. “It was calling you fat boy. You had to get in shape to be on that team,” Gil added, referencing Chuck’s early days with the Sixers. So now the question’s out there—are you siding with Gil or rolling with Chuck on this one?
The post Ex-Warriors Star Discredits Charles Barkley’s Harsh Claims Against Kevin Durant With Stinging Reality Check appeared first on EssentiallySports.