Charles Barkley Says He Hasn't Spoken to Michael Jordan in 'Almost 10 Years': 'We're Both Stubborn'
Charles Barkley says he regrets losing his friendship with Michael Jordan and that the two haven't talked in 'almost 10 years'
people.com
Barkley joined Tom Brady and Jim Gray on the latest episode of SiriusXM’s Let’s Go podcast. During the interview, Brady asked Barkley if there have been any ramifications for being open and honest throughout his career as a basketball analyst. According to Barkley, losing Jordan (the two are seen above in the 1993 NBA Finals) as a friend is one of the biggest fallouts from his media career, which has been so successful for Barkley’s willingness to call people out when warranted
“I think probably, me and Michael [Jordan] were best friends, that’s probably the most prominent thing,” Barkley said. “Michael Jordan, losing his friendship was probably the most prominent thing that’s happened to me. But I was being honest about what I thought. I said, ‘Listen, the toughest thing about Michael, he’s got to put better people around him.’ Because the toughest thing, when you’re famous, they’re on your private jet, you’re buying all the drinks, you’re buying all the dinners. Very few people are gonna be honest with you.”
The comments Barkley was referring to occurred in 2012 during a radio interview with Chicago’s Waddle & Silvy on ESPN 1000. At the time, Jordan was about six years into his tenure with the Charlotte Hornets organization and just two years removed from becoming majority owner of the franchise. Barkley told ESPN 1000 that his friend “has not done a good job” with the franchise and blamed Jordan for not hiring enough people who are willing to challenge him.
“I try to surround myself with people like, hey, if I’m screwing up, please tell me,” Barkley explained to Brady this week, more than 10 years after the fallout with Jordan. “And Michael got offended about something I said about him. And we haven’t spoken in probably almost 10 years. And he was my best friend at the time. And I love the dude like a brother and we’re both stubborn and we haven’t talked.”
Despite not yet making amends with Jordan, Sir Charles said he is uninterested in changing his straight-shooting ways, which he came by thanks to another NBA legend: Julius "Dr. J" Erving.
"First of all, everybody wants to be liked," Barkley said, recalling his first years in the league on the Philadelphia 76ers. "So my first two years, the media never talked to me cause it was always Dr. J and Moses [Malone]. So my third year I started becoming a star and then Dr. J says, 'Hey, you have to remember something.' Because I wanted everybody to like me. He was trying to coach me on how to deal with the media. He said, 'You have to make a choice. You're going to be honest or try to make everybody like you.' "
Barkley continued, "So the first six months, I wanted everybody to like me. And then I realized it doesn't matter what I say. Half the people are going to like it and half the people are going to hate it. And it was a shock to my system. He said, 'Well, you got to make the uncomfortable decision to always tell the truth. You're gonna piss a lot of people off, but at least you'll be authentic.' So from my third year on to now I say, 'Hey, listen, I don't think I'm right all the time, but I'm gonna give my honest opinion and just live with the ramifications.' "