Charles Barkley wants his former Phoenix Suns team to be good.

Sometime.

Soon, even.

But he’s quite aware about the problems permeating through the organization and very vocal about it. He’s spoken about the reputation — fair or not — of the team’s owner, Robert Sarver. He criticized the team firing GM Ryan McDonough nine days before the year and knows the current roster isn’t that good.

So when Barkley noticed the Suns led the Boston Celtics 11-3 early in the first quarter Thursday night, he caused a stir on the live TNT set by pulling out his phone.

Chuck had to capture this special moment 😂📸 pic.twitter.com/OGaZ4hCRQs — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) November 9, 2018

“I’m taking a picture of the Suns got a lead,” he said as host Ernie Johnson questioned him. “I haven’t seen that that often.”

“That is amazing,” Johnson responded, only for Barkley to drop the reality upon viewers.

“It is. It won’t last long America,” the former Sun said.

True it was, though the lead lasted longer than most expected.

Boston held a 3-0 lead to start the game, but it was followed by a Suns score with 10:07 left in the first quarter. Phoenix would lead for the next 46:52 of the game before a Marcus Morris three-pointer just before the final buzzer forced overtime, where the Suns would eventually fall 116-109.

At least Barkley has a recorded account of a rare, fleeting fun moment during the Suns’ 2-9 start to their season.

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