They were rivals, angling to show each other up in 1993's classic NBA Finals. They were teammates, leading the United States to gold in Barcelona in 1992. More importantly, they were friends—hypercompetitive Southerners who put the NBA on the global corporate map.
Now, Hall of Fame forward Charles Barkley and guard Michael Jordan don't seem to be much of anything to each other, as Barkley outlined on 60 Minutes Sunday evening.
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.
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) July 30, 2023
“He’s got my number,” said Barkley, who refuses to be the first to apologize. https://t.co/P0c8FDM0qh pic.twitter.com/PEiijrVATm
"I said, 'I don't think he's gonna have enough people around him that are gonna tell him no,'" Barkley said, referring to comments he made about Jordan's ownership of the Hornets on Inside the NBA.
Because of that, Barkley said that he and Jordan no longer speak.
"I have zero credibility if I criticize other people in the same boat and not criticize my best friend," Barkley said.
Jordan struggled mightily to construct a winner during his 13-year stewardship of his home state's franchise, as Charlotte never advanced past the first round of the playoffs.
When asked whether he ever thought of being the bigger man and calling Jordan himself to talk things out, Barkley was adamant.
"You can be great at something, but that doesn't give you the right to be a jerk," Barkley said. "He's got my number."
