Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Michael Jordan, NBA, Basketball
Luke Davies
Former NBA star Charles Barkley has offered new insight into why he and Michael Jordan are no longer friends.
The pair were previously close friends and were regularly spotted laughing together during their days playing in the NBA.
Both formed part of the iconic Team USA basketball team dubbed ‘The Dream Team’ that won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
And despite playing for different teams in the NBA, the duo, who were both drafted in 1984, were often spotted socialising away from the court.
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Barkley has also made no secret of the fact that he believes Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.
After retiring in 2000, Barkley embarked on a career in the media and has worked as an analyst for TNT alongside fellow legend Shaquille O’Neal.
And he is certainly not afraid to share his at times blunt opinion on the game, as well as providing expert breakdowns of play.
However, one particular comment he made on live TV cost him his friendship with Jordan.
Barkley opened up about the incident during a recent interview on the Tom Tolbert Show and revealed that Jordan “went ballistic” at him for criticising his performance as General Manager of the Charlotte Hornets, having first taken a minority stake in the club in 2006.
“He called me that night and went ballistic on me,” Barkley said.
“He said, 'You supposed to be my best friend and you're going to do that bulls***?'.
“I told him I have to do my job, and you haven't been a good GM.”
The 62-year-old, who played 16 seasons in the NBA, then explained how the exchange became a rather heated shouting match despite Barkley claiming that he has to criticise everyone equally, rather than favouring his friends, such as Jordan.
“He just cursed me out up and down,” Barkley added.
“And we have not spoken since that night. It's a very difficult thing for me because he was my best friend at the time.”
The 1993 NBA Most Valuable Player then claimed that after telling Jordan he needed people to be honest rather than ‘yes men’, the last words he heard from ‘MJ’ were “motherf*****, f*** you, you’re supposed to be my boy'".
Since the 2012 incident, the pair have not spoken, with Barkley admitting that he still misses and loves Jordan.
“I thought it would blow over, to be honest with you,” Barkley explained.
“And he's stubborn — and I'm stubborn — and that's it.”