Devin Booker and Charles Barkley have a lot in common.
They both led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals. Booker and Barkley have their own Nike signature shoe lines. They both played at SEC schools, Kentucky and Auburn, respectively.
In addition, Booker and Barkley love giving back to the Phoenix community. Each publicly stated his desire to be a Valley resident for life, despite not being an Arizona native.
"I'm never gonna leave," Barkley yelled during a panel discussion at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's 14th annual Colangelo Golf Classic dinner at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club on Sept. 17.
Booker and Barkley appeared together with former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo during the panel, moderated by Dan Bickley of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
Bickley asked the five-time All-Star Booker about his "great respect" for NBA history and Booker's humility in the presence of countless Hall of Famers who were at the event. Some of the basketball luminaries there were Julius Erving, Paul Pierce, Gary Payton, Bernard King, former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, Phoenix Mercury's three-time WNBA champion Diana Taurasi and her fellow women's hoops icon Sheryl Swoopes.
"You feel it," Booker said. "You feel it upon entry, right when you get in the room. I'm a sponge to every story that Charles has to say."
The 29-year-old Booker, who's entering his 12th season, all with the Suns, continued to discuss the legacy of basketball greats who helped globalize the sport.
"When I get to look these guys in the eye — we call them the OGs in (our) generation — I hope they feel the love and what they've done for me and my career," Booker said. "They've paved the way. They've grown the game to what it has become. It's passed borders. It's an international, worldwide game, and it wouldn't be that without these guys laying the groundwork, so I always like to pay my respects."
Barkley played for the Suns from 1992-96. He won the 1993 NBA MVP award, the same year that the team lost in the Finals to the Chicago Bulls.
Widely known for his blunt remarks, animated personality and droll sense of humor, Barkley drew laughs from the audience during his lengthy, profane monologue after Booker spoke. Barkley explained his affinity for Phoenix, Colangelo and some of the Suns' former players at the event.
"Mister Colangelo, I love you, thank you," Barkley said. "When I got traded here in '92, I had zero idea about Phoenix. Zero. Counting is not my strong suit, so I'm not sure how long '92 was ago. Because you people, (Barkley's ex-Suns teammate) Mark West, (Suns' former player and TV analyst) Eddie Johnson, Tom Chambers, I gonna (expletive) live here until they cremate my fat (expletive).
"I mean that sincerely because of the people in this room. ... You people could've been anywhere in the world tonight. Y'all came here because of Mr. Colangelo. Think about that. That's why I love Phoenix, and I'm never gonna leave!"
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Devin Booker praises NBA greats, Charles Barkley 'never leaving'
