PHOENIX — Here we go! This isn’t your typical sports show. It’s the pulse of our Valley. We’ll tell you important stories, the ones that matter. From those that inspire, the people that change lives, to the names you grew up loving. 12Sports’ Cameron Cox takes you behind the scenes, on the field and talks to talks to some of the biggest names in Arizona sports. This is your all-access pass.
For our debut episode, I called one of the biggest names in Valley sports: Suns legend Charles Barkley. As you know, Chuck has zero filter, especially these days. Barkley has been really outspoken about the likely end of his long-time hit TV show 'Inside the NBA.' The league is reportedly nearing a deal to move NBA games from TNT to NBC as soon as the 2025-2026 season. Here we go with Sir Charles talking his Suns, Caitlin Clark and the future of 'Inside the NBA.'
Q: What did you make of their decision to hire Mike Budenholzer?
A: Well, Mike's a very good coach. I like him. But Frank Vogel wasn't the they lost. They got to fix that team. They need to get another big guy, they need a point guard. They had no identity, they had no leadership, and that was the reason they didn't win. On every team, somebody has to be the leader. It’s more than talent. Somebody has to be a leader, and it can't be the coach. It has to be one of your players.
Q: You think Devin Booker or Kevin Durant can step up and be that leader?
A: They going to have to or they never going win. They're both terrific players. But you got to have leaders in a locker room if your team is going be successful, because the team is looking for somebody to galvanize the troops. And right now they don't have that.
Q: Are you and KD on good terms?
A: Oh, I don't know. And I don't worry about it. Dude, I was best friends with Michael Jordan. He doesn't speak to me because I said he was bad at his job. You think I’m going to worry about what KD says.. Come on, man. Get real. Durant is a great player, and he's a great person. But he's got to do a better job and leadership, plain and simple. And if you take that, personally, that's on him.
Q: I feel like our sports scene has taken a little bit of a hit recently with the loss of the Coyotes. When you think of Valley sports, where do you think we rank and what comes to mind these days?
A: Well, it'll always be a Suns town. You know with the success of the Diamondbacks (and) the Cardinals… I'm really sorry that the Coyotes are leaving, but they just couldn't get it right on their arena deal. It (Phoenix) is just a great place. That's the reason I lived there. I can live anywhere in the world I want to, but when I got treated to Phoenix in 1992, it was one of the most special times of my life. I tell people when I leave Phoenix, it's going be in a box. Well, that’s a lie. I'm going get cremated because I think funerals are stupid. I think funerals are stupid and putting people in the ground so I'm going to get cremated. But when they burned my big ass up, the only time I'm ever leaving Arizona. I'm never leaving Arizona.
Q: I heard your comments the other night about Caitlin Clark. It's pretty clear that she's making a massive impact in the league.
A: Oh, tremendous. She's got those women on private charters now. Is she the best player? No, she's not the best player in the WNBA, but she's a shining star. 90% of her games are going be on television. I think I don't think the WNBA did her any favors. That team is not going to be very good. That just put too much pressure and that adds to the jealousy also to be honest with you. But the eyes and attention she's bought to the game, give that lady her flowers.
Q: Lets talk about Inside the NBA. Charles, I think I speak for everybody when I say thank you. That shows brought so much joy, what you guys have done for the game… When you look at it, do you see the impact?
A: Yeah, it's been great man. I think we just won like our 20th Emmy. You know, it's crazy. Not only do they pay us to watch basketball, now they're given us trophy, which is the stupidest thing in the world. It's been an honor to work with Ernie all these years. and Kenny, Shaq and the crew. That's the thing I feel bad about is the crew. We have probably 200 people who are going to lose their job. And that really sucks. A lot of these dudes have kids. I've been there 24 years. Think about it. They bring their babies in, then show up like X amount of years later -- you got a teenager. And now they're coming back graduate from college. I mean, it is so crazy. To think about the time frame I spent with these people. They become part of your family and they’re going to get fired, and that's the thing that sucks more than anything. No, I'm not mad for myself doing it. If when I get fired, (I’m) going get to play some more golf. Going to get to smoke some more cigars and drink some more beer. I've said this before… out of all the people in the world, I think it's like 300 million somewhere in that range (FYI it’s really 7.9 billion)... There’s nobody in the world better at doing nothing than me. I can promise you that. There's nobody in the world better than doing nothing than me. I love doing nothing.
Q: Do you think that NBC would be willing to take all you guys? Would you guys all move on to NBC if that happened?
A: You know, I don't know the answer to that question.
Q: Let's go through some memories. You told a great story one time and you made a podcast off the name. When you got the bracelet from the guy in Arizona in the steam room. Did you ever get the name of the guy that gave you the bracelet in the steam room?
A: I haven't seen him. But first of all, Kenny and them are idiots. They messed up the story. The guy did not give me the bracelet in the steam room. He left it at the front desk… He left the steam room before me. I can't say I got one favorite memory because half the stuff we did – you’re like oh man, I forgot I did that.
Q: You think the Suns are in good hands with Owner Mat Ishbia?
A: I do. I like Mat Ishbia a lot. I'm really pulling for the Suns. He’s reached out to me a couple of times. I went back to a couple games. I (usually) don't go to games, because I had my day. I want the fans to pay attention to those guys. I've had a couple of great conversation with Matt and I really want to see the Suns do well. That’s my only regret about my career that I wasn't able to bring the Suns to championship.
Join the conversation at @CamCox12 on Instagam and X or email me your thoughts at ctcox@12news.com. Remember happiness is a choice, go out and make it a great day.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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