Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley competed against one another on the court, but off the court, they had a special relationship as two extremely close friends. That all changed when Barkley criticized Jordan’s management of the Charlotte Hornets, the franchise he owned and recently sold for approximately $3 billion.
As a result of the falling out, Barkley is continually asked to give his perspective on the matter and what can be done to resolve it. However, it seems as though Barkley was the one to mention it first this time around when appearing on SI Media with Jimmy Traina last week.
Barkley specifically referenced his instance with Jordan when he mentioned his dislike towards sports media members who are unable to separate athletes’ careers from their personal lives.
“I lost my best friend because I criticized him… Just because the guy is my best friend, if I have a double standard, that’s not fair.”
As a television analyst, Barkley would be doing a disservice to his viewers if he wasn’t being fully transparent at all times. His analytical integrity is part of what makes him such a respected voice in the industry.
That doesn’t mean Barkley isn’t exhausted from hearing about his feud with Jordan. When asked if he’s tired of talking about his former friendship with Jordan, he replied: “Yes! A hundred percent. A hundred percent! Because you know what, Jimmy, they act like we Prince William and Prince Harry.”
While they may not be British royalty, they are certainly basketball royalty. That’s why their friendship has remained such a topic of interest.
