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Sam Smith explains why Michael Jordan will never forgive Charles Barkley: "There's usually no way back"
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- Sam Smith explains why Michael Jordan will never forgive Charles Barkley: "There's usually no way back"
Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley 's relationship dates back to their playing days in the Association. The two often crossed paths on the road to championships, with Jordan coming out on top most of the time. However, more than just fierce competitors, they were friends, and at one point, among the closest ones.
Still, the fact remains that their relationship eventually reached a point of no return. The question that continues to linger is how it all happened, and whether there is any real chance for two legends of the game to bury the hatchet and find their way back to friendship. They played golf together, spent countless hours off the court during the different parts of their careers, and even battled on the NBA's biggest stage, the Finals, in 1993.
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However, one incident tore the trust between the two, and, according to those who knew Jordan best, once that line is crossed, that is for eternity.
Smith explains why Jordan will forever remember it
Longtime Chicago Bulls beat writer and author, best known for the book "The Jordan Rules," Sam Smith , is a man who had firsthand access to Jordan's greatness and the way he operated behind closed doors. In an exclusive interview with Basketball Network, Smith opened up about the Barkley feud and explained whether he believes reconciliation is even possible.
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"Jordan saw a lot of media people back in the 80s as supporters, and so I believe he felt a betrayal when I wrote the book. Personal loyalty is huge for him, which is why he keeps his groups small and you never see him around the NBA," Smith pointed out.
"He considered Barkley one of those insiders, and when Barkley in his media role criticized Jordan as an owner, that put Barkley outside the inner circle. There's usually no way back," the renowned author continued.
As arguably the greatest player of all time, Jordan always operated within a very tight circle. Privacy mattered to him, and trust was something that you had to earn through hard work and keep even harder. Barkley was once part of that inner circle, but one public moment was enough to change everything. And according to Smith, a man who witnessed both the ups and downs of the Bulls' legend's life, returning from that kind of fallout is extremely unlikely.
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Barkley publicly criticized Jordan
To truly understand the root of the conflict between Chuck and Mike, you have to go back to 2006, when Jordan became a part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Bobcats , now known as the Hornets. The franchise was struggling badly at the time, and Jordan's involvement was seen as an attempt to turn things around. In 2010, he acquired a controlling interest in the team, taking on this daring task head-on.
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However, results never followed. The franchise kept making bad decision after bad decision, and they were near the bottom of the standings season after season. Watching all of it unfold, Barkley did not hold back . During an episode of TNT's "Inside the NBA," he openly criticized Jordan's performance as an owner. Later that same night, Barkley received a phone call from Jordan. True to form, Michael took it personally, and in the matter of one call, their relationship was over.
"I try to surround myself with people like, 'Hey, if I'm screwing up, please tell me.' And Michael got offended about something I said about him," Barkley later explained . "And we haven't spoken in probably almost 10 years. And he was my best friend at the time. And I love the dude like a brother and we're both stubborn and we haven't talked."
It is sad to realize that two of the greatest players to ever walk the hardwood ended things in such an ugly way. While much of their fallout remains private, Smith's words say a lot. Once Jordan feels that trust has been broken by someone close to him, there is rarely a second chance. For now, it seems Sir Charles remains firmly on the outside.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
