Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan have taken a significant step toward rebuilding a friendship that cooled after a public split more than a decade ago. The two NBA icons, once close teammates on the 1992 Dream Team and frequent golf partners, are now talking again and plan to meet on the course after the basketball season ends.
The renewed contact marks a notable turn after years of distance tied to Barkley’s criticism of Jordan’s work in basketball operations with the Charlotte Bobcats, now the Hornets. Barkley said on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Unleashed that the pair had recently spoken and arranged a future round of golf, signaling that the old tension may finally be easing.
How the rift began
The strain traces back to remarks Barkley made in 2012 on ESPN Chicago’s Waddle & Silvy show. He questioned whether Jordan had surrounded himself with enough people willing to challenge him, saying that famous people often end up with loyal voices around them because those people “want you to pick up the check.”
Barkley also said at the time, “I love Michael, but he has not done a good job.” Those comments clearly landed badly with Jordan and changed the tone of a relationship that had once been built on mutual trust and shared history.
Years of distance after a close bond
By 2020, Barkley said the friendship had still not fully recovered. He described Jordan as someone who had been “like a brother” for more than 20 years, while also making clear that he still held Jordan in high regard as “the greatest basketball player ever.”
Even then, Barkley sounded resigned rather than angry, saying he wished Jordan “nothing but the best” while acknowledging that he could not fix the situation alone. That made the latest development more meaningful, because it suggests both sides have now decided to reopen the conversation.
Golf brings them back together
Barkley said the two recently had a conversation and agreed to reconnect through golf once the NBA season is over. His comments framed the move as casual rather than dramatic, but the symbolism is hard to miss because golf has long been part of their connection.
When Russo reacted by calling it a big story, Barkley pushed back on the idea that the feud had become deeply personal. He said, “We’re not like Prince William and Prince Harry,” and added that there had always been “a lot of love” between them.
Jordan, who is now a minority owner with the Hornets, saw his team’s season end Friday night in a play-in loss to the Orlando Magic. That timing may help clear the way for the long-awaited reunion, with Barkley saying they spoke again within the last 72 hours and are planning to play once basketball obligations are done.
Read more at: www.aol.com
