Charles Barkley has revisited the origins of his long-running fallout with Michael Jordan, confirming that the two NBA icons have not spoken in more than a decade following a heated phone call in 2012. The rift traces back to Barkley’s on-air criticism of Jordan’s tenure as an NBA team owner, a moment that permanently fractured one of basketball’s most high-profile friendships.
At the time, Barkley questioned Jordan’s leadership and decision-making with the Charlotte Hornets, then known as the Bobcats, during an episode of Inside the NBA. Those comments sparked an explosive confrontation between the longtime friends, one that Barkley now describes as the point of no return.
The Phone Call In 2012 That Changed Everything
According to the Hall of Famer, the fallout brought their personal relationship to an abrupt end, closing the chapter on a friendship forged through their NBA careers and shared success with Team USA.
Barkley recounted the incident during an appearance on The Tom Tolbert Show on Sunday, December 21, revealing that Jordan reached out the very night the comments aired.
“He called me that night and went ballistic on me,” Barkley said. “He said ‘You supposed to be my best friend and you’re going to do that bulls***?’”
Charles Barkley says his friendship with Michael Jordan ended when he called him out for being a bad GM on TV 😳
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) December 21, 2025
“He called me that night and went ballistic on me. He said ‘you supposed to be my best friend and you’re going to do that bullsh*t?’ I told him I have to do my job… pic.twitter.com/TeDgwYAqTL
The criticism centered on Jordan’s tenure as the Hornets’ chief decision-maker. Barkley said he felt a responsibility to remain consistent in his analysis, even when evaluating someone he considered a close friend.
“I told him I have to do my job and you haven’t been a good GM,” Barkley replied during the call. “How can I criticize other people and give him a pass? When other guys make bad draft picks, I call them on it too.”
According to Barkley, the conversation quickly escalated and became one-sided. “He just cursed me out up and down. And we have not spoken since that night. It’s a very difficult thing for me because he was my best friend at the time.”
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Barkley has shared this account across multiple platforms over the years. During a 2023 appearance on the All the Smoke podcast, he recalled the final words Jordan directed at him during the exchange: “The last thing I heard was ‘Motherf*****, f*** you, you’re supposed to be my boy.’”
Despite the prolonged silence, Barkley has consistently expressed openness to reconciliation. Speaking to Bleacher Report in 2023, he said, “That’s on his end. He was my best friend at the time, and I love the guy, and I miss the guy. I thought it would blow over, to be honest with you. And he’s stubborn — and I’m stubborn — and that’s it.”
Inside Michael Jordan’s Hornets Era: Ownership Decisions And Franchise Outcomes
For the unversed, Jordan became a minority owner of the Hornets in 2006 before purchasing a majority stake in 2010. During his tenure as majority owner, the franchise made three playoff appearances but failed to win a postseason series.
In 2023, Jordan sold his controlling stake for approximately $3 billion, more than ten times his original investment, while retaining a minority ownership role. On the court, Charlotte’s struggles have persisted.
The 2025–26 Hornets entered play on Monday, December 22, with a 9–19 record, ranking 12th in the 15-team Eastern Conference. Despite the team’s limited success, Jordan’s influence around the league has remained undeniable.
Four-time NBA champion Tony Parker recalled Charlotte’s efforts to recruit him in 2018, telling hornets.com, “When MJ called, it was over.” Parker added, “He texted me, and everybody that’s known me for many years knows M.J. was always my idol growing up. He was my favorite player, and that’s who I wanted to become. He made me want to play basketball.”
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More than 13 years after that phone call, Barkley and Jordan remain estranged, with the fallout standing as one of the most notable personal rifts between two figures synonymous with NBA history.
