Charles Barkley has opened up in depth about the intense argument that ended his long-standing friendship with NBA legend Michael Jordanโan incident that has left the two stars estranged for over a decade.
In two separate podcast interviews, Barkley detailed how one honest critique of Jordanโs leadership with the Charlotte Bobcats led to a complete breakdown in communication.
A Decade-Long Silence
On All The Smoke, a podcast hosted by former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Barkley shared that he and Jordan havenโt spoken since a fiery phone call years ago.
โHe went ballistic,โ Barkley recalled. โThatโs the last time we talked.โ
The disagreement began when Barkley publicly criticized Jordanโs performance as team owner. Jordan became part owner of Charlotteโs NBA teamโthen the Bobcats, now the Hornetsโin 2010. Since then, the franchise has struggled with mediocre seasons and limited playoff success.
According to Barkley, Jordan was furious after hearing the criticism and called him directly. โThe last thing he said was, โMotherf—-er, f— you. I thought you were my boy.โ I told him, โMan, Iโm just doing my job.โ We havenโt spoken since that night.โ
Barkley Stands by His Words
In another candid interview, Barkley explained his perspective further. โHe was my best friend at the time. I love the guy and I miss the guy. But I gotta do my job,โ Barkley said. โI think Iโm fair to everybody.โ
He elaborated on his original comments, saying he didnโt believe Jordan could succeed in team ownership because of the people he surrounded himself with. โI said, โI donโt know if heโs ever going to be successful because of the people around him. I think he hires too many of his friends.โโ
Barkley stressed that being surrounded by โyes-menโ is one of the biggest challenges for celebrities.
โTheyโre not going to tell you when youโre wrong. Theyโre flying on your jet, youโre paying their billsโtheyโre not going to challenge your decisions.โ
No RegretsโBut Open to Reconnecting
Despite the fallout, Barkley said he has no regrets about telling the truth. โI had no problem saying that because it was the truth,โ he said.
Still, he admitted he didnโt expect the silence to last this long. โI thought it would blow over, to be honest with you. But heโs stubborn, and Iโm stubborn. And thatโs it.โ
When asked if thereโs hope for reconciliation, Barkley left the door openโbut said the ball is in Jordanโs court.
โThat would be on his end,โ he said on All The Smoke. โIโd probably tell him, โI meant what I said, and Iโm sorry if it offended you. Letโs move past it and get back to playing golf and having fun.โโ
For now, though, the once-close friendship between the two NBA icons remains on pauseโcaught between honesty, loyalty, and pride.