NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has publicly detailed the explosive 2012 argument that permanently fractured his two-decade friendship with basketball icon Michael Jordan.
The Night That Ended a 20-Year Friendship
The rift stems from a broadcast of TNT's 'Inside the NBA' in 2012, where Barkley, known for his unfiltered analysis, criticised Jordan's performance as managing owner of the Charlotte franchise, then known as the Bobcats. Barkley suggested Jordan needed to hear hard truths from people around him, rather than being surrounded by 'Yes men'.
That same night, Barkley received a furious late-night phone call from Jordan. "He called me that night and went ballistic on me," Barkley recounted on the Tom Tolbert show. "He said 'you supposed to be my best friend and you're going to do that bulls***?'"
Barkley Stood His Ground Despite Jordan's Outburst
Despite the intimidating tirade from the Chicago Bulls legend, Barkley refused to retract his professional assessment. "I told him I have to do my job and you haven't been a good GM," Barkley admitted. "How can I criticize other people and give him a pass? When other guys make bad draft picks, I call them on it too."
The exchange reportedly devolved into a one-sided shouting match, with Jordan taking the criticism deeply personally. "He just cursed me out up and down. And we have not spoken since that night," Barkley stated, adding, "It's a very difficult thing for me because he was my best friend at the time."
Barkley has since shared that the final words he heard from Jordan were: "'motherf*****, f*** you, you're supposed to be my boy,'" as told on the 'All The Smoke' podcast.
Radio Silence and Hopes for Reconciliation
Despite the over a decade of silence between the two superstars, Barkley has expressed ongoing affection for his former friend and a hope to one day reconcile. "I thought it would blow over, to be honest with you. And he's stubborn — and I'm stubborn — and that's it," Barkley told Bleacher Report.
He emphasised that the ball is now in Jordan's court, saying, "That's on his end. He was my best friend at the time, and I love the guy and I miss the guy... I want to 'get past the bullsh***' with Jordan."
The criticism of Jordan's front-office tenure in Charlotte was not isolated. Since purchasing a controlling stake in the club in 2010, the team has recorded only two playoff appearances under his leadership, a record frequently scrutinised by analysts and fans alike.
