Rekindling a Friendship: Barkley and Jordan to Play Golf Together

Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan, both giants of the NBA in the 1990s, were not only part of the iconic 1992 Olympic Dream Team but also shared a deep friendship. They also both enjoyed golf, which added a layer of camaraderie to their relationship.

However, things took a downturn over ten years ago when Barkley openly critiqued Jordan’s performance as an owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Bobcats, now known as the Hornets.

Recent updates suggest that the two have patched things up, and golf will play a role in their reconciliation.

The tension escalated back in 2012 during an appearance on ESPN Chicago’s Waddle & Silvie show. Barkley remarked, “The biggest problem is, we don’t know if it’s going to happen.” He felt that Jordan surrounded himself with yes-men, saying, “I don’t think Michael employs enough people around him to disagree.” Barkley concluded that while he loved Jordan, he believed he hadn’t done well in his role.

Understandably, those comments didn’t sit well with Jordan. In 2020, Barkley pointed out that their relationship hadn’t improved, saying, “He’s been like a brother to me for 20-odd years… I feel…sad. But there’s nothing I can do about it, brother.”

However, things seem to be different now.

Recently on Chris Russo’s “Mad Dog Unleashed” on SiriusXM, Barkley revealed that the two had begun to talk again, with plans to reconnect after the NBA season wraps up. “We had a conversation,” Barkley said. “As soon as basketball is over, we’re going to get together and play golf.”

When Russo pointed out the significance of their renewed communication, Barkley acknowledged Jordan’s previous frustrations. “Charles, he was mad at you, so that’s a big story!” Russo noted.

In a further commentary, Barkley downplayed the seriousness of the rift. “We’re not like Prince William or Prince Harry,” he said on “Inside the NBA.” He emphasized that there was always love between them. “We’ve always had a lot of love for each other. We talked about it in the last probably 72 hours,” Barkley added. As Jordan’s ownership of the Hornets concluded with a recent play-in loss to the Orlando Magic, they look forward to hitting the golf course soon.