Phoenix Suns: Looking back at Charles Barkley’s 56-point outburst

NBA Phoenix Suns Charles Barkley (PAUL GERO/AFP via Getty Images)
NBA Phoenix Suns Charles Barkley (PAUL GERO/AFP via Getty Images)

 Taking a look back at Charles Barkley’s legendary 56-point outburst against the Golden State Warriors in the 1994 NBA Playoffs.

Charles Barkley is considered by most as one of the best power forwards in NBA history. He has done it all, with the exception of winning an NBA Title. In fact, he might be the best player in history to never win a title.

Despite that, he’s won two gold medals, was named to the all-star team 11 times, and was named the NBA MVP in 1993. The hall of famer was also only the fourth player in NBA history to score 20,000 points, record 10,000 rebounds, and dish out over 4,000 assists.

Barkley was selected fifth overall in the 1984 NBA Draft, which many suggest is the best draft class in history.

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Looking back to the night in which he scored 56 points in a playoff game, it’s the third-highest scoring outburst in the playoffs in league history.

Game 3 of the 1994 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors, with the Phoenix Suns already up 2-0, Barkley took centerstage. The first quarter opened in a shootout, and Barkley would go on to score 27 in that first frame alone. He would score 38 in the first half alone.

Barkley couldn’t miss as he finished on 23-31 shooting from the field, hitting three of his four 3-point attempts and cashing in on seven of his nine attempts from the free-throw line. The Warriors, with Latrell Sprewell, Chris Webber, and Chris Mullin, did what they could to avoid getting swept by Barkley and the Phoenix Suns, but they were too much on this day,

It was a game that really could’ve gone either way with the number of points that were being scored, but in the end, Barkley would help lead Phoenix to the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

On the night, Charles Barkley would finish with 56 points and 14 rebounds. It would go down as one of the greatest performances in playoff history. It was truly a legendary performance from such a legend.