NBA legends Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley used to be best friends, but the pair now haven't spoken in more than 10 years and their rift clearly still bothers the Phoenix Suns icon.
Jordan competed in the NBA between the years of 1984 and 2003 across three separate stints, becoming one of the greatest basketball players of all time in the process. He was pivotal in leading the Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championships, and helped drive the sport to worldwide popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. Among his many accolades are five Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and an NBA record for the highest regular-season scoring average of 30.1 points per game.
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While Barkley never reached the outrageous level of fame that Jordan enjoyed, 'Sir Charles' was still a huge star during his playing days. During his 16 seasons in the NBA, he became one of the best rebounders and scorers in the sport. He was an 11-time All-Star, and the 1993 NBA MVP.
As one of the few men who knew the pressure of being on top of the sport, it's not surprising that Jordan was close with Barkley. Both men were part of the 1984 NBA Draft class, picked just two spots apart - and Charles would describe the duo as 'best friends'.
Michael Jordan Ended the Friendship After Being Publicly Criticised by Barkley
The two haven't spoken since 2012
However, that bond was broken when Barkley criticised Jordan during a 2012 interview.
At the time, Jordan was both part-owner and Head of Basketball Operations at the Charlotte Bobcats [since renamed the Charlotte Hornets]. The franchise were struggling significantly at the time and Barkley held nothing back as he gave his honest views on why Jordan's management style wasn't working.
Speaking on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000, Barkley stated:
"I think the biggest problem has been I don't know if he has hired enough people around him who he will listen to. One thing about being famous is the people around you, you pay all their bills so they very rarely disagree with you because they want you to pick up the check. I don't think Michael has hired enough people around him who will disagree. I can't come on here and tell you that he has done a great job. He has not done a good job. Plain and simple."
Whether Barkley didn't think he was being particularly harsh or simply didn't realise that Jordan would take offence to his comments is unclear. However, 'Air Jordan' was fuming - and the pair haven't spoken since.
Although years had passed by the time the former friends stood on stage together at the NBA's 75th anniversary ceremony in 2022, it was clear that Jordan still hadn't got over Barkley's criticism. Footage showed the Bulls' legend shaking hands with almost everyone except Barkley.
Barkley revealed how much the breakdown of his relationship with Jordan had hurt him during an appearance on "Let's Go!" with Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray. Charles reflected on his comments and reminisced about the good times he had shared with Jordan, attributing the deterioration of their friendship to the different ways they handled fame.
"I think probably me and Michael were best friends. That's probably the most prominent thing. Michael Jordan, losing his friendship, was probably the most prominent thing that's happened to me. But I was being honest about what I thought.
"Michael got offended about something I said about him. And we haven't spoken in years. He was my best friend at the time. And I love the dude like a brother and we're both stubborn and we haven't talked."
Given how long it has been since the pair have spoken, it seems unlikely that Jordan will ever forgive Barkley. It's a genuine shame to see two legends of the game on such bad terms.
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