Charles Barkley claims Michael Jordan’s greatness “doesn’t give him the right to be a jerk” as he lifts the lid on their fractured friendship 10 years after they last spoke in an angry, profanity-laden phone call.
NBA legend-turned-star analyst Charles Barkley has opened up about his fractured relationship with Michael Jordan, 10 years after the former best friends last spoke.
Barkley and Jordan are now 60 years old and rose together, facing off on the court and spending much time together off it during their illustrious careers.
Their relationship, which Barkley describes as “best of friends,” came to an abrupt end a decade ago, when the analyst criticized Jordan on television and “His Airness” did not take kindly to it.
speaking to CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday night, Barkley explained: ‘Michael disagreed with something I said and broke off the friendship. And what I said, I think he doesn’t have enough people around him to say, “No.”
“And he was very offended, and we haven’t talked.” In a previous interview, Barkley had explained about the call in more detail, noting: “He was furious.
Charles Barkley has opened up about his fractured relationship with NBA legend Michael Jordan
Jordan and Barkley are the same age and used to be best friends before a heated argument.
The couple used to play golf together regularly, but now they haven’t spoken in the last 10 years.
“He called me, and that’s the last thing I heard was, ‘Son of a bitch, fuck you! You’re supposed to be my boy.'”
In the CBS interview, Barkley added: “I’m going to do my job, because I don’t have credibility if I criticize other people in the same boat and I don’t criticize my best friend.”
Barkley, who retired in 2000 after a 16-year career, was asked if he would consider picking up the phone and talking to Jordan to mend their friendship, despite the 10 years that have passed since they last spoke.
“I have an ego too, John,” he said. ‘You can’t be good at something… that doesn’t give you the right to be an idiot. He got my number.
So it seems that any resurrection of the friendship will have to come from Jordan’s side, but that doesn’t seem to be happening.
Not much has changed in the last decade, Jordan still owns the Charlotte Hornets, and Barkley still appears on TV every week to give his opinion on the current generation of NBA players.
Jordan still owns the Charlotte Hornets, but there are reports he might be willing to sell
Barkley (left) doesn’t hold back on his criticism of players, friends or not.
Barkley (left) says Jordan has his number if he wants to mend their relationship in the future.
In recent weeks, the former 76ers, Suns and Rockets star has weighed in on LeBron James, the Milwaukee Bucks and Ja Morant, to name just three, the latter being an excuse to delve into the issue of gun violence.
Kevin Durant has also been a hot topic for Barkley and his fellow analysts, with the player himself even backing down, noting, “I don’t know why they’re still asking for this idiot’s opinion.”
When asked about his current thoughts on the now Phoenix Suns star, Barkley told CBS: “He’s very sensitive.” Great player. He is part of that generation that he believes that he cannot be criticized.
“He never looked in the mirror and said, ‘man, is that a fair criticism?’