Charles Barkley offers sage advice to Devin Booker while taking dig at Kevin Durant, Suns

When Charles Barkley speaks, it's typically turned into a meme overnight. This time, however, Barkley's words of wisdom warrant heeding.

While on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" on Wednesday, Barkley warned the Phoenix Suns lacked a clear leader, and that could haunt them this season if no one steps up.

"My Suns, they got no identity and no leadership," Barkley said. "You gotta have a style of play. You gotta have leadership. The Suns have not proven they can do that yet."

However, he didn't just stop with the criticism. Barkley directed advice toward Phoenix's youngest star, Devin Booker, challenging him to step up and claim the role of locker room leader.

"[Booker] is a terrific player,” Barkley praised. "The whole dynamic of the team changed when KD and Beal came there. Now, they gotta have leadership. He’s (Booker) gotta take the leadership role. I think he’s reluctant because assume that KD’s the best player. Kevin has said he don’t want to be a leader. He just wants to play basketball."

Barkley's dig at Kevin Durant is pointed but factual. In April, ahead of the 2024 playoffs, Durant told reporters that then-head coach Frank Vogel was the team's leader, denying, like Barkley claimed, that he himself was who the players looked to for direction.

"We all speak up and talk, but the leader is the coach," Durant told reporters.

Vogel responded to Durant's comments in a contradicting manner that same day.

"On the floor? Book, Brad and KD [lead,]" he told reporters. "They all do a great job leading in their way."

Phoenix went on to crash out of the playoffs in a first-round sweep to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Barkley's right, Phoenix needs a leader, and if Durant refuses to be the elder statesman in the room, Booker is the next best choice.

New head coach Mike Budenholzer will have his own issues trying to win over the locker room and create a new system. Booker could be the key to bridging the gap and unlocking the team's true potential.