Old Friends Turned Rivals
Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan were once inseparable, both as fierce competitors on the court and close friends off it. However, their relationship took a nosedive over a decade ago, when Barkley criticized Jordan’s management of the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets). Barkley’s comments on "60 Minutes" reignited the feud, where he stated, “Being great doesn’t give you a right to be a jerk.”
The Breaking Point
The tension between the two basketball legends began after Barkley’s 2012 interview on ESPN’s Chicago radio station, where he bluntly stated, “I love Michael, but he just has not done a good job.” He suggested that Jordan surrounded himself with people who wouldn’t challenge his decisions. “They want to fly around on your private jet so they never disagree with you,” Barkley remarked, hinting at the echo chamber Jordan had built around himself.
A Heated Confrontation
Their last conversation, as recalled by Barkley, was anything but friendly. On Showtime’s “All the Smoke,” Barkley recounted how Jordan called him, furious about the criticism.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
Next page
