Michael Jordan is arguably one of the greatest basketball players to have ever played the game. His legacy is so long-lived that even almost 19 years after his last game, his 15 years in the NBA are celebrated and remembered. The dominance he embarked on in the league is quite possibly unrepeatable.

Each and every player holds Michael Jordan in very high regard. Some say they have had the privilege of playing with the dominant figure. Some share how challenging it was to play against the unstoppable force. Whereas some reveal how inspiring it was to see Michael Jordan play growing up and then play in the NBA themselves. One such individual is Charles Barkley.

Charles Barkley knew Michael Jordan was going to become Michael Jordan

Charles Barkley played 16 years in the NBA through 1984-2000. He got to experience Michael Jordan in his playing days as a competitor. However, he had the chance to play against him long before he witnessed Jordan in the NBA.

ALSO READ MJ and Charles Barkley’s decade long feud.

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Charles Barkley recalls the time when he went to trials for the Olympics team and met Michael Jordan and saw him play basketball for the first time.

Charles revealed, “Well, in 1984, when I tried out for the Olympic team, I didn’t really want to go because I didn’t think I was good as those guys who went to the big schools. So my coach, Sonny Smith, talked me into going and when I got there, I should play real well. And when I got back, he said what do you think. I said coach if I get in shape and I work hard, I can be a good player.”

“But I played against this one guy. I’ve never seen anybody that good. His name is Michael Jordan, and this is when he was back in college. I never expected him to do what he did when he got to the NBA, but with the first time I played against him for like a week, I knew he was the best I’ve ever seen,” he added. 

WATCH: Charles Barkley and other players MJ has ticked off.

At 21 years old, Charles Barkley recognized that there was something special in the fellow 21-year-old. He was not wrong. Jordan went on to become arguably the best basketball player the world has ever seen. Michael Jordan undisputedly, undoubtedly, and absolutely is one of the greatest athletes of all time.