“Michael Jordan didn’t win for a long time, but he got better as a player”: Charles Barkley on LeBron James and the current culture of chasing championships

NBA Analyst Charles Barkley talks about current players chasing rings, and how former players like Michael Jordan never did the same.

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors recently spoke about how he feels the franchises are being unfair to the players. He talked about the double standards of the league and the unfair treatment of Andre Drummond by the Cavs.

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While there were players who agreed on Draymond’s stance, a lot of others did not. Charles Barkley went so far as to call Draymond annoying for what he said. While he was on the Ringer, Chuck also talked about the culture of chasing a championship which has become a common practice in the modern-day NBA.

“Michael Jordan did not give up against the Pistons, he got better”: Charles Barkley

It has become a common practice for the players to switch teams if they cannot find success with one. This is one of the things the former players frown upon a lot. The process of free agency and demanding a trade was not as easy in the former days.

Charles Barkley, while on Bill Simmons’ The Ringer podcast, talks about the same. He uses Michael Jordan as an example for the same. Michael Jordan went 7 years in his career even before achieving some success and making it to the playoffs.

Even in their first few matchups in the postseason, the Pistons beat Jordan and his Bulls big time. However, MJ stuck around, improved his game, and finally got to the promised land.

“Michael Jordan didn’t win for a long time. He didn’t say, ‘Hey I can’t beat the Pistons.’ He got better as a player. That’s what really funny about these guys today, they don’t win a championship in first 3 or 4 years it’s, ‘Well I need some help!’ Everyone needs some help.”

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The entire episode can be heard here:

What Chuck says makes complete sense. MJ’s loyalty for the team never wavered, and he found success with the Bulls. However, there have been quite some players who stayed loyal to their team and never found team success.