Michael Jordan broke off friendship with NBA legend after one comment and they haven't spoken since

It seems Michael Jordan does not take kindly to criticism, even when it come from his best friend.

Jordan and Charles Barkley both entered the NBA in the 1984 draft, with "His Airness" joining the Chicago Bulls and Barkley picked by the Philadelphia 76ers.

The pair were teammates at the 1992 Olympics, the stars of Team USA's "Dream Team" that stormed to a gold medal. And they battled for a championship on the court in 1993, with Jordan's Bulls overcoming the Phoenix Suns led by Barkley, who the reigning MVP at the time.

Jordan and Barkley shared a close bond that lasted for decades, both avid golfers and highly competitive, highly skilled basketball superstars. But it was only long after they'd both retired and Barkley had become one of the top basketball analysts on TV that their relationship soured.

Michael Jordan scored 581 three-pointers in his career. Image: Getty

In 2012, Barkley criticised Jordan's record as the owner of the Charlotte Hornets – who were known at the Charlotte Bobcats at the time. As Barkley recalls, the five-time MVP took offence to the comments and hasn't spoken to him since.

"And what I said, I think that he don't have enough people around him that are gonna tell him, 'No,'" Barkley told CBS 60 Minutes. "And he got really offended, and we haven't spoken."

"I'm gonna do my job," he said. "Because I have zero credibility if I criticise other people in the same boat and not criticise my best friend."

In another interview, Barkley recalled the expletive-laden phone call he received from Jordan that effective ended their friendship.

“He called me and the last thing I heard was ‘Motherf***er, f*** you,'" Barkley said. "You’re supposed to be my boy.’ I said ‘Man, I gotta do my job.’ We haven’t spoken since that night.”

Barkley added in another interview: "What I said was true, that’s probably the only thing. I don’t regret saying it, I regret losing a good, one of my best friends.”

Jordan no longer owns the Hornets, having sold his majority stake in the team last year. Barkley remains one of the highest-paid and most respected on-screen personalities in sports broadcasting.