NBA legend Charles Barkley came to fame for his superior basketball skills and incredibly gregarious personality. Most basketball fans know him as one of the hosts of Inside the NBA, where he shares his hilarious and unorthodox opinions about the sport and the world. Way before he became a TV guy, Chuck was already making people giggle with his antics on and off the court.
Nonstop yapping
Barkley’s best trait is his unflinching honesty. In a game against Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in January 1998, Barkley was seen yapping uncontrollably to the star shooting guard, the officials, and pretty much everyone else. One of Chuck’s main complaints was how the officials seemingly favored MJ. Jordan wasn’t bothered by his good friend’s behavior because he knew it was part of who he was.
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“Charles with his mouth shut isn’t Charles,” Jordan said, via the Chicago Tribune. “That’s like me playing with hair.”
Barkley, then a member of the Houston Rockets, exploded for 35 points and 14 rebounds that night. An assistant at the United Center handed him a copy of the statistics, which showed how he had four more free-throw attempts than Jordan. Still, Chuck didn’t care about the stats, especially since they lost, 100-106.
“I don’t need no stats, man,” Barkley said, brushing him away. “I know we lost.”
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Chuck was a funnyman, but he couldn’t bear to look at proof of Jordan’s scintillating 45-point performance at their expense. Winning was all that mattered to Barkley, especially against the mighty Bulls and his good friend.
“It can’t be taken in a harsh way,” Jordan said. “On the court you’re trying for any advantage you can. We’re friends, and somebody has to lose. I’m just glad it’s him.”
A friendship that was
Jordan’s fiery personality laxed whenever he talked about Barkley. The two only became teammates for a short time with the 1992 Dream Team, but had a very close bond throughout their NBA careers.
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Sir Charles knew exactly why MJ developed a fondness for him. At a time when almost everyone bowed down to Jordan and called him a basketball god, Barkley remained honest and treated him like an ordinary human being.
“I keep him loose,” said Barkley in 1993. “He realizes he can be himself around me. And he knows he can pick up the phone anytime and I’m going to be there for him. I don’t give a damn that he’s Michael Jordan, and he doesn’t care that I’m Charles Barkley. We’re just friends.”
This is why their 1993 NBA Finals duel was one of the most anticipated matchups of all time. The narrative moved beyond the two top teams, as it was strange to see MJ smiling in the middle of an intense battle. When Chuck was around, the most competitive man on the planet behaved differently.
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Unfortunately, the two have not spoken for decades. Barkley said their friendship ended when he criticized Jordan’s ownership of the Charlotte Hornets and the fact that it never improved under his watch. MJ took offense to such comments and has not spoken with Chuck since. Only time will tell if the two basketball titans will patch things up.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.