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Charles Barkley admits he is proud of Michael Jordan's NASCAR success: "He's always been great for me"
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- Charles Barkley admits he is proud of Michael Jordan's NASCAR success: "He's always been great for me"
Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan haven't spoken to one another in over a decade as a result of the former chastising the latter for his handling of the Charlotte Hornets .
Like Jordan's friendship with former teammate Scottie Pippen, this has been one of the sports world's most unfortunate developments, given how close the two were during their playing days and even after. Despite the frigid state of their relationship, Barkley recently disclosed how proud he is of MJ, especially for finding another outlet for his intense competitive spirit.
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Basketball is just a small part of life
One thing that not many people discuss is how difficult it is for professional athletes to find meaning in their lives when their playing days conclude. While some superstars such as Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Carmelo Anthony have transitioned to successful media careers, there are some who haven't been as lucky.
"Basketball is just a small, a small part of your life. No matter how great you are, you're going to be done as a young person," the Round Mound of Rebound pointed out. "You have to find something else to bring you joy and happiness and things like that."
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"Hey, I love doing television. You know, I've been blessed to do this for a long time, but basketball, I've been retired longer than I played!" he added.
After playing his final game in the big leagues in April 2000, he immediately joined the famed "Inside the NBA" crew and has become a TV mainstay, beloved for his unfiltered, humorous takes.
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Happy for MJ
Like Barkley, Jordan has found another lane to dominate: NASCAR. And so far, Jordan's 23XI Racing team has set the bar of excellence high, with Tyler Reddick winning four of the first six races this season, including a monumental victory at the famed Daytona 500.
Jordan commented that he's fortunate to be involved with NASCAR, as it allows him to let his competitive juices flow, albeit in an arena vastly different from the one he dominated many decades ago.
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"I'm a very competitive person. 100 percent. I think I'm cursed. I'm cursed with this competitive gene," MJ said. "Anything that I do, if it's getting dressed, I got to get dressed before my wife get dressed, you know, those types of things. I'm cursed."
Barkley said he couldn't be happier for his former comrade.
"I'm happy about his success in NASCAR.I know he loves fishing, like he said, but I'm proud of his success at NASCAR. He's always been great for me. He taught me how to make money and things like that, and so, man, I'm proud of his success," Barkley said.
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With MJ possessing the winner's gene, it appears that he's destined for success in every endeavor he throws himself into. That's evident in his team's recent NASCAR victories, solidifying Jordan's status not only as a basketball legend but also as a sporting icon who turns anything he touches into gold.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
