The two were once rivals on the court and close friends off it, but fell out after their playing days were over, with Barkley criticizing Jordan’s moves as owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets).
“And what I said, I think he doesn’t have enough people around him to say, ‘No,’” Barkley said on “60 Minutes” Sunday night. “And he was very offended, and we haven’t talked.”
That was more than 10 years ago, but the veteran “Inside the NBA” analyst said he was just doing his job.
“I’m going to do my job,” he said. “Because I have zero credibility if I criticize other people in the same boat and I don’t criticize my best friend.”
Jon Wertheim of “60 Minutes” asked Sir Charles if he ever thought of calling Jordan to set the record straight.
“I have an ego too, Jon. You can’t be good at something, that doesn’t give you the right to be a jerk,” he said.
“Do you think you’ll figure this out eventually?” Wertheim pressed.
“He got my number,” Barkley said.
“I love Michael, but he just hasn’t done a very good job,” Barkley said on “The Waddle & Silvy Show.”
He said it was probably due to Jordan’s people.
“One thing about being famous is that the people around you pay all your bills, so they rarely disagree with you because they want you to pay the bill,” Barkley said. “They want to fly in your private jet so they never disagree with you. I don’t think Michael has hired enough people around him who don’t agree.”
He talked to Jordan one more time after that… but it wasn’t a pleasant conversation.
