Despite coming into the NBA together in the 1984 Draft, playing together for the Dream Team and having a close friendship during their playing days, NBA legends Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan have not spoken in a while. In a recent 60 Minutes interview, Barkley said the reason is that he was honest with Jordan about the way he ran the Charlotte Hornets.
"Michael disagreed with something I said, and he broke off the friendship," he told 60 Minutes' Jon Wertheim.
"And what I said, I think that he don't have enough people around him that are gonna tell him, 'No.' And he got really offended, and we haven't spoken," Barkley said. "But, Jon, I really, I'm gonna do my job. Because, I have zero credibility if I criticize other people in the same boat and not criticize my best friend."
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/P0c8FDM0qh pic.twitter.com/PEiijrVATm
Jordan became a minority owner for the Hornets in 2006, when the team was still referred to as the Bobcats. He became a majority owner in 2010 after a $275 million purchase.
The franchise didn't see much success under Jordan. The Hornets have only made the playoffs twice since 2010 and Barkley didn't want to sugarcoat anything for his friend.
Earlier this year, Jordan sold the majority shareto a group led by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin -- who has been a minority stakeholder for the Hornets since 2019. The franchise was valued at $3 billion, which means Jordan had a pretty nice payday. The six-time NBA champion didn't go away completely as he kept a minority stake.
Barkley has long been retired from playing basketball, but he is still a fan favorite as an analyst on TNT's Inside the NBA and CBS Sports' March Madness. Although he and Jordan were best friends, it's hard to tell when they will resolve things because of their personalities. They have a lot of history together but Barkley said he "has an ego too."
"You can't be great at something, like... that doesn't give you the right to be a jerk," he said.
One of them will eventually have to pick up the phone and start the conversation, but so far Barkley is not ready to take the first step.
"He got my number," he said.
Here is the full '60 Minutes' interview:
Sure, I've been deeply entrenched in the NBA world for years, from its history to the intricacies of player dynamics and team management. Let's dive into the concepts touched upon in the article:
-
NBA Legends: Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan
- Both Barkley and Jordan were iconic NBA players who entered the league in the 1984 Draft. Their careers spanned a similar era, and they played together in the famous Dream Team during the 1992 Olympics.
-
Friendship and Fallout
- Despite their close friendship during their playing days, Barkley revealed in a recent 60 Minutes interview that he and Jordan haven't spoken for some time. The rift emerged when Barkley criticized Jordan's handling of the Charlotte Hornets, the team Jordan owned and managed.
-
Jordan's Ownership of the Charlotte Hornets
- Jordan initially became a minority owner of the Hornets (previously known as the Bobcats) in 2006 and later acquired the majority share in 2010 through a $275 million purchase. However, under his ownership, the team didn't experience substantial success, making the playoffs only twice since 2010.
-
Criticism and Business Decisions
- Barkley, now an NBA analyst, didn't shy away from critiquing Jordan's management style and the team's performance. Despite Jordan's sale of the majority share to a new ownership group led by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin for a lucrative $3 billion valuation, the relationship between Barkley and Jordan remains estranged.
-
Personality Clashes and Egos
- Barkley hinted at both his and Jordan's strong personalities affecting their ability to reconcile. He mentioned Jordan's potential sensitivity to criticism, highlighting the need for people around him who challenge his decisions.
-
Resolution and Communication
- Barkley indicated that while one of them would eventually need to initiate reconciliation, he wasn't ready to make the first move, stating that "He got my number."
The article sheds light on the dynamics between two NBA legends turned friends turned estranged due to disagreements over management approaches and the inability to resolve differences, potentially highlighting the complexities of friendships in high-stakes environments like professional sports ownership and criticism within the NBA fraternity.
FAQs
They were friends during their playing days, it was an incident that happened when they were both retired. Barkley made comments about Jordan making poor hiring decisions and surrounding himself with the wrong people on live television, and Jordan basically ended their friendship immediately after this.
Who is Jordan's best friend? ›
Viewers saw George Koehler in action as Jordan's personal assistant and best friend. It was Jordan himself who insisted on referring to Koehler this way, which speaks volumes about their close-knit relationship.
Is Charles Barkley really 6 6? ›
As a player, Charles Barkley was perhaps the greatest anomaly in basketball history. Listed at 6-6 but actually closer to 6-foot-4, he played power forward as well as anyone in the history of the NBA, often dominating players half a foot taller. The numbers back him up.
How did Michael Jordan solve his problem? ›
By experiencing failures, Jordan developed an unyielding determination to keep pushing forward, learn from his mistakes, and grow stronger. Every setback he encountered became an opportunity for him to bounce back with renewed vigor.
Are Jordan and Pippen still friends? ›
Pippen has been publicly feuding with Jordan since the release of “The Last Dance” documentary, taking multiple public shots at his former teammate since the show's release in 2020.
What did Charles Barkley say that upset Michael Jordan? ›
Barkley claimed his comments that upset Jordan were criticisms of how the NBA legend was running the Bobcats. "I said I don't know if he's ever going to be successful because of the people around him. I think he hires too many of his friends." A team of yes-men "don't ever tell you no," said Barkley.
Who does Jordan not get along with? ›
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were once a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court — but their friendship has seemingly turned sour.
Who is Michael Jordan's favorite player? ›
He's a superb role model for almost any basketball player and it makes perfect sense that he was Jordan's. Are you surprised that Walter Davis was Michael Jordan's favorite player?
Does Charles Barkley like Michael Jordan? ›
Born just three days apart, basketball legends Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan were once the best of friends, but now they haven't spoken in years.
Who is taller Jordan or Kobe? ›
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, both basketball legends, were very close in height, with only a slight difference between them. Michael Jordan was listed at around 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) tall during his playing career, while Kobe Bryant was listed at around 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) as well.
While many players across the league saw their height shrink, LeBron James added half an inch. He was measured at 6'8.5". He is officially listed as 6'9 thanks to the new rule change.
Who was taller, Larry or Magic? ›
Larry Bird was listed at 6 feet 9.5 inches tall during his playing career. Therefore, Larry Bird is slightly taller than Magic Johnson. However, it is important to note that Larry Bird had a significant advantage over Magic Johnson when it came to height due to his unusually long arms.
What does Michael Jordan do now? ›
He became part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets (then named the Bobcats) in 2006 and bought a controlling interest in 2010, before selling his majority stake in 2023. He is also the owner of 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Did Michael Jordan help anyone? ›
Jordan's support for Make-A-Wish dates back to the first wish he granted in 1989. In the years since, he has granted hundreds of wishes to children all over the world, becoming one of the all-time most requested celebrity wish granters. He remains one of the organizations most popular wish requests.
What was the biggest challenge Michael Jordan faced? ›
Some of these challenges include:
- Transitioning from sports to business: One of the initial challenges was transitioning from a career in professional basketball to the business world. ...
- High expectations: Due to his iconic status in sports, there were high expectations for his business ventures. ...
- Managing bran.
He developed some form of a positive rapport with every member of the dream team, but he was especially close with Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, and Magic Johnson. Jordan has also always had a close friendship with his former Bulls teammate Charles Oakley.
Are Shaq and Barkley actually friends? ›
Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley have become not only one of the best duos in sports media, but also seem to be the best of friends. To wit, they often take comical aim at each other, with hilarious results.
What does Jordan say about Barkley? ›
Jordan, in particular, was critical of Barkley's actions, saying it could have gotten the latter kicked out of the tournament. "If he keeps this up, they're going to throw him out of the Olympics," Jordan said. "We've already created some ill feelings here, and that didn't help."
Is Dennis Rodman friends with MJ? ›
The duo never had a great friendship off the court, so watching a 59-year-old MJ asking a 60-year-old Rodman to hang out is something special. Dennis Rodman has a lot to be proud of these days. On top of being named one of the 75 greatest NBA players of all time, his daughter is making a mark of her own.
