Not so long ago, Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan were two of the most dominant forces in the National Basketball Association.
Despite their rivalry on the court, and even though Jordan beat him in the NBA Finals the very same year Chuck won MVP, they actually developed a very close relationship and strong friendship away from the hardwood.
But the two Hall of Famers eventually grew apart, and it’s been years since they last spoke to each other.
In a recent interview, Barkley explained what actually went down between them.
Apparently, Jordan took offense at Chuck’s comments about him being surrounded by a lot of “yes men,” which is why he failed to lead the Charlotte Hornets to success.
Barkley claims that it was his job to tell the truth about Jordan’s job in charge of the organization and that he would have zero credibility if he didn’t call him out just because they were best friends.
When asked about whether he’d be willing to reach out to Jordan and make amends, Barkley admitted that he’s also got an ego and that Jordan has his number.
Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were best friends until Barkley criticized Jordan’s management of his NBA team. The friendship ended, and they haven’t spoken in years.
“He’s got my number,” said Barkley, who refuses to be the first to apologize. https://t.co/r7Ggg5tsWI pic.twitter.com/C6CjDQB6uj
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) March 27, 2023
It’s a shame to see two of the greatest basketball players of all time going through something like this, especially considering they’re both grown men and should know better than this by now.
But Jordan’s competitive nature often drove him away from people, and it’s not like Barkley has an easy-going character, either.
Hopefully, they’ll sort things out somewhere down the line.
NEXT: Kevin Durant Responds To Charles Barkley's Claim About Him
