“I don’t want to be overdramatic, but it was like a death in the family” – Charles Barkley’s honest response after the Suns let go of Dan Majerle originally appeared on Basketball Network.
For the Phoenix Suns in the early 1990s, that player was Dan Majerle. According to Charles Barkley, his departure from the team left such a sense of despair within the organization that it felt like a real-life tragedy had occurred.
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In the NBA, superstars often receive the bulk of attention from fans and the media. Still, it’s frequently a different player who embodies a team’s spirit — one who sacrifices for the team, gives it his all every night, and serves as the emotional anchor and x-factor.
Majerle was the heart of the Suns in the early 1990s
After debuting for the Suns, Majerle began averaging double-digit points by his sophomore year. Although his palace in the starting lineup wasn’t certain, by his third year, he had not only started to earn more playing time than some of the starters. Still, he even registered a palace in the All-Defensive Team.
Moreover, just before Barkley arrived, “Thunder Dan” had already made his first All-Star appearance, signaling his emergence as a key contributor.
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When Barkley joined the Suns, it was clear he would be the primary leader. However, his chemistry with Majerle was instant. The two clicked from the start, helping Phoenix become the best offensive team in the league and reach the NBA Finals in their very first season together.
Importantly, while Barkley elevated Majerle to his All-Star ceiling, the latter’s presence helped Barkley earn All-NBA First and Second Team honors. Furthermore, the Suns continued to rank among the league’s top three offensive teams over the next two seasons. Still, postseason success remained elusive, with back-to-back second-round exits.
Still, the team clearly had the potential to break through, as evidenced by their winning more than 55 games in the regular season in each of Barkley and Majerle’s three campaigns together.
Then came the summer of 1995, when the Suns traded Majerle to the Cleveland Cavaliers, feeling they had exhausted their options. Barkley later described the moves as devastating and how the whole team was affected by this move.
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“I remember it vividly,” Barkley said on Majerle’s departure. “‘I don’t think they traded Dan Marjele.’ It was like… I don’t want to be melodramatic, overdramatic, but it was like a death in the family.”
The Phoenix Suns were never the same
Phoenix lacked its former edge in the 1995-96 season without Majerle. They finished with a mediocre 41-41 record. While their offense remained in the league’s top seven, defensively, they were one of the worst teams in the league. The lack of defensive grit showed clearly in the playoffs, as the Spurs eliminated them in four games, scoring over 110 points in each of their three wins.
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“The Round Mound of Rebound” himself would leave in the summer of 1996. Still, one can’t help but wonder what the duo might have accomplished had Majerle been given one last shot alongside him. But as they say, such moves only show how crucial patience is to succeed in this league.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.