Annoyed of Michael Jordan’s Love For Hotels, Charles Barkley’s Friendship with MJ Blossomed After His Trade to Phoenix: “Get Out and Carouse”

Having been drafted in the same year, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were once good friends. The two were incredibly close and often hung out with each other regularly. But, if there is one thing Chuck hated about Jordan, it was the fact that he was always cooped up in his hotel. All that changed after Sir Charles made the move to the Phoenix Suns. Back in Philadelphia he just couldn’t get his fellow Hall of Famer to leave his hotel room. It infuriated Barkley. But, things were different in Arizona. How?

Well, as revealed in Roland Lazenby’s Michael Jordan: The Life, Phoenix had an array of golf courses. And, MJ and Charles’ love for golfing, helped their friendship blossom to a whole new level.

Golfing in Phoenix helped both Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan improve their friendship

Michael Jordan is one of the biggest athletes the world has ever seen. But, contrary to his celebrity status, Jordan very rarely embraced the celebrity lifestyle. While he did have his headline-worthy hobbies like gambling, he usually preferred staying indoors.

This did not sit well with his once-good friend Charles Barkley. The Round Mound of Rebound hated it every time His Airness visited Philadelphia and stayed in his hotel room. A stark contrast to his love for going out and about in public.

However, all that changed when Barkley left the City of Brotherly Love. In 1992, Chuck was traded to the Phoenix Suns, a move that worked out well for two reasons. First and foremost, he managed to earn his first NBA Finals appearance with the team. And, lastly, it greatly improved his friendship with MJ. All thanks to the numerous gold courses in the area.

“Barkley was always annoyed by Jordan’s seemingly constant residence in a hotel room somewhere. “Sir Charles” loved to get out and carouse, to interact with the public, which was where he’d always found trouble in his Philadelphia days. But in Phoenix, the array of golf courses in the Valley of the Sun had meant that he had no trouble attracting Jordan for some fun.”

Chuck hit the jackpot with the golf courses. If there is one thing that can get Jordan moving outside of basketball, it’s a couple of rounds of golf. But, all the golfing in the world couldn’t save their friendship, especially after Michael bought the Charlotte Hornets.

Charles Barkley’s criticism of MJ’s ownership of the Hornets ruined their friendship

For the longest time, it seemed as though nothing could break the bond between Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan. No amount of ribbing and arguing had worked thus far. But, all it took was for Chuck to criticize MJ once and their friendship was over. Barkley claimed that Jordan was not a good GM and questioned his ownership of the Charlotte Hornets, and with that things between them ended.

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.

Given how close they were, it’s a shame that such criticism ended their friendship. It’s been quite a while now, and the two are yet to mend things. Hopefully, things will change in the coming years.