Phoenix Suns: Predicting all-time starting 5 in NBA 2K18

Power Forward: Charles Barkley

Honorable mentions:  Connie Hawkins, Tom Chambers, Larry Nance, Paul Silas

Steve Nash may be the greatest player in Suns franchise history, but the best player to ever don the purple and orange was undoubtedly Charles Barkley. Putting aside his modern-day rants as a studio analyst, people forget how dominant Chuck was in his prime.

A true force of speed and mass, Barkley was the original freight train on the fast break before the world ever uttered LeBron James‘ name. He was a beast on the boards despite being undersized, and though his 3-point shot left much to be desired, the Round Mound of Rebound did WORK everywhere else on the court.

In his first season with the team, Sir Charles accomplished something Nash never could, taking Phoenix to the NBA Finals with a league-best record of 62-20. Though the Suns fell to Michael Jordan‘s Chicago Bulls in the Finals, it was arguably the greatest season in franchise history.

During his four years with the team, Barkley put up a gargantuan 23.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 50.1 percent from the field. He won an MVP Award and earned All-Star and All-NBA honors in every season with Phoenix.

His most memorable moments include a triple-double in Game 4 of the 1993 NBA Finals, a 56-point performance against the Golden State Warriors and a 44-point, 24-rebound masterpiece against the Seattle SuperSonics in the playoffs.

Despite only playing four years with the team, Barkley ranks seventh all-time in rebounds and first in Player Efficiency Rating. Nash is the greatest Phoenix Sun ever, but Barkley was the best player to ever suit up for the franchise.