Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan turned profanity into progress.
The formerly close friends and basketball rivals were not on speaking terms for nearly 15 years after Barkley criticized Jordan’s ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats, but the two reconciled in April as mutual friend — and ex-MLB star — Vince Coleman put them on the phone.
This week, Barkley shared more details about that conversation on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take.”
“What’s up motherf–ker?” Barkley recalled playfully saying to Jordan, who was playing golf with Coleman.
The Bulls icon repeated the words back to him jokingly, and then the pair talked and made plans to play golf together in the future.
“We were great friends, brothers for a long time, and both of us [were] being selfish and stupid,” Barkley added on the podcast.
Barkley said that during the conversation, both expressed that they missed each other’s friendship.
And while he said Jordan is currently out of the country, the pair plan to golf when he is back.
“As soon as we get a chance, we’re gonna get together,” he said. “I’m gonna go down to his golf course and play with him for a couple of days.”
Barkley formerly spoke about the conversation to Chicago radio hosts Marc Silverman and Tom Waddle of the “Waddle and Silvy” show.
“‘Yo, I’m down here at [Jordan’s golf course] The Grove,’” Barkley recalled Coleman’s words. “‘I’m sick of you and MJ’s BS. He’s right here. Y’all need to talk.’”
“And we had a conversation, but Vince Coleman’s the person who’s responsible. We talked for a couple of minutes,” Barkley added.
In 2012, Barkley — also on “Waddle and Silvy” — made some critical remarks regarding Jordan’s performance with the Bobcats (later the Hornets), whom he sold in 2023.
“I think the biggest problem has been I don’t know if he has hired enough people around him who he will listen to,” Barkley said 14 years ago.
“One thing about being famous is the people around you, you pay all their bills, so they very rarely disagree with you because they want you to pick up the check. They want to fly around on your private jet, so they never disagree with you. I don’t think Michael has hired enough people around him who will disagree.”
Now, however, Barkley is excited to get back on the course with Jordan.
“I’m really looking forward to putting my game up against him,” he said.
