“Michael Jordan and I are no longer friends”: Charles Barkley explains why his criticism of the Bulls legend being an unsuccessful team owner led to an estrangement between the two

Charles Barkley lets it be known that him and Michael Jordan are not friends any longer due to his criticisms of him being an unsuccessful team owner. 

Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley have known each other ever since they were drafted together in the iconic 1984 NBA Draft. Over the decades, they’ve faced off in the NBA Finals, played golf with one another, showed up to interviews with Oprah by each other’s side, and all in all, portrayed a very wholesome brother-like relationship. 

However, many NBA fans may point out that the two have not only, not talked about one another as of recent and have not been sighted together either. Michael Jordan did mention Chuck during ‘The Last Dance’, claiming him winning the 1993 MVP irked him, giving Jordan extra motivation to win a championship that season.

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Other than Chuck responding to this on ESPN in an interview with Mike Greenberg, Michael Jordan-Charles Barkley content has been slim to none. That was, up until Barkley’s most recent HBO interview. 

Charles Barkley confirms he’s no longer friends with Michael Jordan due to his takes on the latter’s team ownership. 

In his sit-down with Bob Costas, Charles Barkley let it be known that him and Michael Jordan are no longer with one another. After praising the 6x champ and saying that he believes the Bulls legend is the undisputed ‘GOAT’, Barkley explained why he’s no longer on speaking terms with Michael. 

“We’re not friends. And I take some responsibility for that. I criticized him, he was one of my best friends and I definitely love him and miss him but I, Bob, I have to do my job. I said, ‘I don’t know if Michael’s ever going to be successful (as a team owner for the Hornets) because I don’t know if he can get enough strong people around him.” 

“It was painful to lose him as a friend but when I said it at the time, it was true. Whether I was right or wrong, That’s debatable.”

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Charles Barkley has criticized Michael Jordan on several occasions, most famously on their joint, Oprah Winfrey interview, for surrounding himself with ‘yes-men’. Jordan’s need to be around people who viewed as superior seems to be the driving force behind their falling out and subsequent estrangement.