Charles Barkley has never been shy about his love for the Phoenix Suns. After all, the Hall of Famer spent some of his best years with the franchise from 1992 to 1996. Just a month ago, he called them the “second-best team” in the Western Conference, praising their chances against powerhouses like the Thunder. But things change quickly in the NBA, and so does Chuck’s opinion. Now, the outspoken analyst isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to the Suns’ recent decisions, both on and off the court.

Talking with Arizona Sports, Barkley didn’t hold back. Rumors are swirling about the Suns making a push to sign Jimmy Butler, and Chuck wasn’t exactly thrilled. “They should have been bringing Bradley Beal off the bench a couple of years ago,” he argued while adding, “now they’re just being petty.” Barkley seemed convinced that bringing in Butler now is more of a jab at their previous mishandling of roles.

But that wasn’t all. Barkley also touched on the future of their veteran stars, particularly Kevin Durant. “Let’s say, hypothetically, you bring in Jimmy Butler,” he began, diving into the financial and age-related risks. Durant’s contract is winding down, and Chuck warned about having two aging superstars soaking up massive salaries.

“Old players don’t get better; they just get older,” he said bluntly. While Barkley respects Durant’s talent, he’s wary of building a championship team around stars pushing their late 30s.

The concern isn’t just about Durant, though. The Suns’ current roster is inching closer to an age cliff. By next season, Durant will be 37, and Devin Booker will already be eyeing 29. Adding Butler, who isn’t exactly a spring chicken at 36, might not push the team closer to title contention. Barkley seems to believe that time, not talent, is becoming the Suns’ biggest enemy.

So, what’s next for the franchise? If they swap Beal for Butler, sure, it might improve chemistry on the court. But five years from now, will the Suns be any better off? Barkley isn’t convinced. One thing’s for sure: Chuck isn’t backing down from calling them out.

Charles Barkley critical of Phoenix Suns

Charles Barkley didn’t mince words during TNT’s halftime show of the Philadelphia-Golden State matchup, taking aim at two franchises close to his heart: the Sixers and the Suns. “I have zero faith in the Suns and the Sixers,” the Hall of Famer admitted. “That hurts me to my heart to say that. I watched the Suns play last week. They stink. They stink.” Harsh as it was, Barkley’s frustration with Phoenix felt personal, as the team continues to flounder despite its star-studded lineup.

To make matters worse, Phoenix’s recent skid only reinforces Barkley’s concerns. The Suns have lost three straight, dropping to 15-17, marking their first time below .500 this deep into a season since a 4-6 start last year. Injuries to Devin Booker and Bradley Beal have only compounded their struggles. Barkley, never one to hold back, summed it up bluntly on Inside The NBA: “My Suns, the ship be sinkin’.”

And the numbers back him up. Over the past two months, Phoenix has been anything but playoff-ready. With a mediocre offensive rating of 112.5 (14th), a dreadful defensive rating of 116.6 (26th), and a net rating of -4.1 (23rd), the Suns are far from their title-contender expectations. So Barkley isn’t just venting.

Now, the big question lingers: can Phoenix salvage its season? Time is running out for the Suns to prove they’re more than the disappointment Barkley sees.