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Charles Barkley reveals why he refused to join Michael Jordan on the Wizards: "I am too smart for that"
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- Charles Barkley reveals why he refused to join Michael Jordan on the Wizards: "I am too smart for that"
There comes a time in every professional NBA player's life when the journey finally comes to an end for good. Whether it is because of injuries, age catching up, or simply getting tired of the daily grind, that moment eventually arrives for everybody. Well, everybody except maybe LeBron James , but that's a story for another day.
However, very few players retire and then decide to come back. Let alone do it twice.
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That was exactly the case for Michael Jeffrey Jordan , the man many still consider the undisputed GOAT of basketball and someone who, for a large portion of fans, remains untouchable in that conversation. Jordan returned from retirement on two separate occasions. While the first comeback became the stuff of legend, resulting in another three consecutive championships and bringing his total to six rings, the second one was a completely different story.
Barkley almost joined his buddy
After dominating the 1990s, capturing countless individual accolades, including five MVP awards, Jordan stepped away following the legendary 1997-98 season, better known today as "The Last Dance." That Chicago Bulls dynasty cemented itself as one of the greatest in sports history.
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Even though he spent some time away from the hardwood, Jordan remained deeply involved with the game on which he had left such a massive mark.
He served as President of Basketball Operations and part-owner of the Washington Wizards from 2000 to 2001 before stepping down from management to play for the team himself. Being so close to the game, yet unable to help on the court, reignited the competitive fire inside MJ. He believed there was no better way to pass on everything he knew to young and upcoming players than by sharing the floor with them. So he did exactly that.
Sure, this was no longer the Jordan everyone grew accustomed to seeing, soaring through the air and finishing impossible acrobatic plays. But he was still more than capable of getting buckets with ease.
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In his mission to make a smooth return to the best basketball league in the world, Jordan organized countless open runs and workouts to sharpen, or better yet, re-sharpen his game. One of the players helping him during that process was his longtime friend and rival, Charles Barkley .
It eventually got to the point where MJ even floated the idea of bringing Chuck to the nation's capital. And while there was a brief thought about it, Barkley admitted he knew better. Some things are better left in retirement.
"But I am too smart for that! Because I knew that my body couldn't hold up," Barkley said about almost joining his buddy in a vintage interview with David Letterman.
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"I spent the summer with him working out and he says, 'How is it coming?' And I said, he was getting in shape, I was just getting tired. But, I made a great decision, 'cause I would have gotten hurt," he added.
Barkley ended his career on a sour note
If we go back in time, it can be remembered that Barkley ended his Hall of Fame career as a member of the Houston Rockets . At the time, the Rockets were essentially a collection of aging superstars hoping that experience alone would be enough to squeeze out one more championship run.
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Truth be told, it was anything but.
Hakeem Olajuwon was getting up there in age and was no longer the same dominant two-way force who terrorized the league during Jordan's baseball retirement. Scottie Pippen and Barkley never truly saw eye to eye either, largely because of various off-court issues, including Chuck's inability to stay in peak condition.
Add to that the fact Barkley ruptured a tendon in his knee during his farewell game in Philadelphia in his final season, and it becomes pretty clear that any sort of comeback was always going to be a very, very long shot.
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Although Barkley, in his classic fashion, joked about helping out his buddy Michael and the struggling Wizards, the idea quickly became much bigger than it realistically ever should have.
Even if Washington had seriously pursued Barkley, the luxury tax implications would have complicated the situation. More importantly, Chuck himself knew his body simply could not survive another NBA season.
And in the end, sticking to retirement, television appearances, and the role of a fan proved to be the correct decision.
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"He was the greatest player ever, and he wasn't any good when he came back, and imagine how bad I would have been. I mean, that was a great decision," Barkley also doubled down on his stance.
Dream Team buddy helping out struggling MJ
Jordan was indeed viewed as the best player in the world at the time, and the mere thought of him coming back naturally generated a buzz around the league. Truth be told, signs of rust were there.
Sure, Michael still put up impressive numbers for a player in his late 30s and early 40s, averaging 21.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists across 142 games with the Wizards. For most players, those would have been career years, but for Mike, it was a sign that Father Time is undefeated even when the GOAT is facing him.
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As for Barkley and MJ, even though their relationship became strained over the years because of Chuck's comments regarding Jordan's tenure running the Charlotte Hornets , there is still a tremendous amount of history between the two Hall of Famers.
Interestingly enough, the only time they ever found themselves competing on the same team was during the legendary 1992 Olympics. Alongside Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and the rest of the Dream Team, they absolutely dismantled the competition on their way to the gold medal.
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Which is why the thought of Barkley joining Jordan in Washington sounded fascinating at the time. Two longtime friends and rivals coming back one last time for the chance of lifting the franchise that has been down for so long. But as Chuck himself admitted, one comeback story was enough, and he was wise enough to stay put.
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Looking back now, considering everything his body had already gone through, even if the fans were left wondering how it would have looked, it sure was the best decision.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
