"It's probably the first time I went to a Laker game" - Michael Jordan recalls when Charles Barkley invited Bulls players to watch him play originally appeared on Basketball Network .
After four unsuccessful years with the Phoenix Suns , Charles Barkley demanded a trade to the Houston Rockets in the 1996-97 NBA season. He joined a stacked team with fellow legends Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. The 33-year-old Chuck, hampered by injuries, was aiming for one final run at an NBA championship. And he wanted his friends to witness that journey.
In the Rockets' November 1996 duel against the young Los Angeles Lakers at The Forum, Barkley invited one of his best buddies, Michael Jordan , and other Chicago Bulls players to watch him play
In the Rockets' 90-85 win, the legendary forward had 23 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. He looked healthy and strong, dismissing concerns about back problems.
Meanwhile, Jordan shared that his good friend asked him to attend the game. However, Mike wasn't pleased with his seats and jokingly said he was rooting for the other team.
"He invited me, but he gave me terrible seats," said Jordan, who was accompanied by teammates Scottie Pippen and Ron Harper. "It's probably the first time I went to a Laker game as a fan."
Jordan left the arena impressed with the Lakers ' performance against a veteran squad, although it was clear to him that L.A. was still trying to gel as a team.
"They're young, and they're still trying to find their chemistry," he said, via the Los Angeles Times. "Some nights they come out and play like they're unbeatable, and the next night they can't generate the same intensity. It's a matter of getting comfortable."
"I think that's one of the pluses on this team, we've been together for a year and a half and the chemistry seems to be set. The camaraderie is really good and I think that helps us to be successful," he added.
Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Behind him were Nick Van Excel with 21 points and Eddie Jones with 14. The 18-year-old rookie, Kobe Bryant , did not play.
The Lakers finished the regular season with an impressive 53-29 record. The following year, they improved to 56-26.
In Jordan's final season with the Bulls, the purple and gold won 61 games and made it to the Western Conference finals. There was a slim chance the Bulls would face the young L.A. squad in the 1998 NBA Finals. However, the Utah Jazz swept them en route to their second straight appearance in the championship round.
Meanwhile, everything went downhill for Barkley and the Rockets. They made it to the 1997 Western Conference finals, only to be annihilated by the Jazz in six games.
After Jordan retired, Barkley recruited Scottie Pippen to fill in the void left by Clyde Drexler, who decided to retire and reignite his title hopes. In an unfortunate turn of events, the Lakers booted them out 3-1 in the first round of the 1999 NBA Playoffs.
Barkley would play his final, albeit very short, season in 2000. Injuries had already taken a toll on his body, so he finally decided to give up on his dream of chasing an NBA title.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
