NBA legends Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan plan to play golf together after resolving their longstanding disagreement.
A prolonged period of no communication between NBA Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley appears to be ending. Barkley announced they will meet for a golf outing once the basketball season concludes. He shared this update during an interview on Sirius XM's 'Mad Dog Unleashed' on Friday. Their discussion showed progress toward mending their relationship after years apart.
The split between the two legends started nearly 15 years ago in 2012. Barkley criticized Jordan's leadership as owner of the then-Charlotte Bobcats during a radio interview. He suggested Jordan had failed to surround himself with enough advisors willing to challenge his decisions for the franchise. This public remark marked the beginning of their extended silence.
Barkley expressed his dissatisfaction with Jordan's performance as an executive at the time. He stated, 'I love Michael, but he just has not done a good job.' His comments came despite acknowledging their friendship. He emphasized his honesty by saying, 'Even though he is one of my great friends, I can't get on here and tell you he's done a great job. He has not done a great job, plain and simple.'
Barkley had previously voiced his desire to resolve the rift with Jordan. In 2020, during talks surrounding the documentary about the Bulls dynasty, he urged Jordan to reach out. He told a station, 'Oh, he got my number. He can call me.' This reflected his ongoing wish to rebuild their bond.
Jordan became the majority owner of the Bobcats in 2006. He later sold his stake in the renamed Charlotte Hornets in 2023 for an estimated $3 billion valuation. Despite this, he retained a minority share of the team. His public silence continued regarding any plans to reconnect with Barkley.
Barkley minimized the seriousness of their disagreement during the recent interview. He compared their situation to a famous family dispute, stating, 'We're not like Prince William and Prince Harry.' He confirmed recent conversations with Jordan, adding, 'We just decided to get together and play golf as soon as basketball is over.'