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10 April 2019, US, Dallas: Basketball: NBA; Main Round; 81st Matchday; Dallas Mavericks – Phoenix Suns at Amercian Airlines Center. Legendary meeting on the occasion of Dirk Nowitzki’s last home game of his career. This is Charles Barkley speaking to Dirk Nowitzki. Photo: Philipp Hülsmann/dpa (Photo by Philipp Hülsmann/picture alliance via Getty Images)

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10 April 2019, US, Dallas: Basketball: NBA; Main Round; 81st Matchday; Dallas Mavericks – Phoenix Suns at Amercian Airlines Center. Legendary meeting on the occasion of Dirk Nowitzki’s last home game of his career. This is Charles Barkley speaking to Dirk Nowitzki. Photo: Philipp Hülsmann/dpa (Photo by Philipp Hülsmann/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Calling the Phoenix Suns anything less than an anomaly this season would be an insult. Their consistency up until now has made them one of the best teams in the Western Conference, and they have already sealed their spot in the Conference Finals after sweeping the Denver Nuggets in the Semis. And if there is anyone who is proud of them, it is former Suns legend Charles Barkley.
With the Suns hoping to make it to the NBA Finals, Barkley couldn’t help but reminisce his historic battle against the Chicago Bulls in 1993, especially Game 3, in which they pushed the Bulls to the edge and took the game into triple overtime and avoided a clean sweep with a victory.
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Charles Barkley and his worst nightmare
In an interview, Charles Barkley discussed the current Suns team and then spoke about that unforgettable Game 3. He was asked what it took to win a triple-overtime game in the Finals.
“Oh, it takes a lot of breaks,” Barkey started off. “Because in triple-overtime, there’s one or two plays or just one player that can go one way or another… There was so many back and forth in those games, it was stressful. Obviously, we won, but it was stressful. Because we lose that game, we’re going to get swept more than likely.”
Charles was asked whether he and Michael Jordan ever talked about this game or not. He had the most hilarious reply that had everyone bursting into laughter. “I never want to talk about that series ever again. Ever!” Barkley emphasized. “I wake up in the middle of the night sometimes thinking about what could I have done differently.”
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How the Phoenix Suns prevailed over the Bulls
The Suns had led the league in the regular season that year with a 62-20 record. And when they entered the Finals matchup against the Bulls, they had a home-court advantage as well, along with the pressure to prevent them from taking a three-peat.
Unfortunately, the Chicago Bulls quickly turned that advantage for them and won two games in a row. It was not until the third game that fans saw the Suns rise to the occasion. The Bulls could have been just two wins away from their third straight title but the Suns fought tooth and nail to push the series further.

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CHICAGO – JUNE 18: Charles Barkley #34 of the Phoenix Suns chats with Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls in Game Five of the 1993 NBA Finals on June 18, 1993 at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. The Suns won 108-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Thanks to Dan Majerle’s six three-pointers, Barkley’s incredible double-double of 24 points, and 19 rebounds, they triumphed over the Bulls in a 3OT classic. Although the Bulls eventually won the championship by Game 6, this 3 hours and 20-minute tussle became one of its kind in the NBA’s history.
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