Every ardent NBA follower has probably heard of the long-standing beef between Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley. While MJ hasn’t really spoken about it, Barkley has been vocal about it in the media. He has even continued to take digs at MJ several times after the fallout. However, the two Hall of Famers had a budding friendship before their eventual fallout. There is a very unique story that led to Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley’s initial friendship during the 1984 Olympics, which involves the latter being a ‘jacka**’.

Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were very close friends in the late 80s and early 90s. They used to spend hours on end Golf courses, most notably, during the 1993 NBA finals. However, their friendship had a massive fallout in 2012 over one of Chuck’s statements on MJ.

Charles Barkley’s banter sparked his friendship with Michael Jordan

In the book ‘Jordan Rules‘ by Sam Smith, the author described the exact moment when MJ and Chuck’s friendship blossomed. He revealed that Barkley and MJ became amicable when Chuck took a dig at Team USA head coach Bob Knight. Jordan detested coach Knight during the 1984 Olympics, as Smith quoted MJ in his book saying, “I don’t know if I would have done it if knew Knight was going to be like.”

Eventually, When Chuck made fun of coach Knight during the team picture session, MJ drew closer Chuck. Barkley made everyone but Knight burst into laughter when he described Knight’s shoes as ‘Grandaddy’s shoes‘. However, Knight was not impressed with Chuck and had cussed him back. According to Smith, Jordan said “Knight said something about Charles [Barkley] being a jacka** and started cussing.” Impressed with Chuck’s valor, MJ added, “I’ve never heard anyone talk to coach Knight like that.” That’s when the duo became friends, only to fall out later on.

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MJ-Chuck fallout

Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley’s friendship broke in 2012 after Barkley criticized MJ regarding his management of the Charlotte Hornets. Ever since, the duo hasn’t spoken to each other. In the docuseries The Last Dance‘, MJ’s advocate Stephen Smith said, “Barkley should have called Jordan, that’s what it comes down to.” On the other hand, Chuck expects MJ to reach out to him.

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