Second-greatest player in the history of each NBA franchise
Phoenix Suns: Charles Barkley
Greatest Player: Steve Nash
Charles Barley had developed into one of the league’s premier power forwards over the first eight years of his career in Philly but had grown frustrated with the Sixers’ downward trajectory, prompting a trade to the Phoenix Suns in the summer of 1993.
Arriving on a team that won 53 games the previous year sparked new life within Barkley, who turned out to be exactly what a superstar-less Suns team needed.
Phoenix would win a league and franchise-best 62 games in 1992-93. Barkley averaged 25.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, earning MVP honors for the only time in his Hall of Fame career.
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The magical season culminated in a Finals appearance for the Suns, their first since 1976. Barkley made sure his team put up a fight with 27.3 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, but there was no answer at the time for the MJ-led Bulls, who took the series in six games.
Barkley would see a slight dip in production over the next three seasons but still maintained his All-Star caliber play.
The Suns were still among the best in the league, posting back to back 50-win seasons. But after consecutive second-round exits followed by a 41-win first-round defeat in 1996, it was clear their championship window had closed, resulting in Barkley being sent to Houston.