Charles Barkley says Kevin Durant is NOT the same level as Lebron James, Kobe Bryant

Charles Barkley has challenged Kevin Durant to spearhead a team’s charge to NBA glory and cement his place as one of the true greats of basketball.

Durant was recently traded to the Phoenix Suns from the Brooklyn Nets but has yet to make his debut for his new team as he recovers from a knee issue. The 34-year-old is not thought to be far from being able to play again.

With a new era at a new team on the horizon, Barkley was discussing Durant’s place in the landscape of basketball greats on First Take. with Stephen A. Smith. 

‘Kevin gets mad at me when I point this out but if you go back and look at LeBron he said he had to win a championship without Dwayne (Wade) to get respect,’ Barkley said. ‘Kobe Bryant said it too – he had to win a championship without Shaquile O’Neal.

‘I hold Kevin Durant to the same criteria. He’s an all time great but when it comes to being mentioned with these other guys he has to win a championship where he is the leader of the team and the best player.’

Charles Barkley has explained why he doesn’t consider Kevin Durant the same way as LeBron

Durant won two NBA championships with Golden State, playing alongside Steph Curry 

Durant is a two-time NBA champion, winning back-to-back titles with Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018 where he played alongside Steph Curry. But Durant failed to replicate that success in Brooklyn.

‘Everywhere else he has been, he hasn’t been successful,’ Barkley said. And that is the standard I hold him to. 

‘If he wants to be on a level with LeBron and Kobe and those guys he is going to have to be the best player and leader. 

‘The stress that goes with being the leader of a team is a big deal. Role-players don’t have to play good, they get no blame.’

The Suns are currently fourth in the Western Conference standings with a 33-29 record. Durant’s old Nets team are fifth in the Eastern Conference on a 34-26 record. 

Durant last played on January 8 for the Nets in Miami when he sustained a right MCL sprain.

He watched Milwaukee beat the Suns 104-101 on Sunday and his new coach Monty Williams said Durant might be available for Wednesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.

‘We’ll have to see,’ Williams said. ‘We’re not quite sure, but we’ll have to see.’

After a knee injury, Durant is closing in on his debut with the Phoenix Suns after a recent trade