For almost 15 years, Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan basically didn't talk. The freeze-out reportedly traced back to 2012, when Barkley publicly ripped Jordan's ownership of the Bobcats, and Jordan took it as a betrayal from a guy he used to consider a brother. That's a long time to hold a grudge between two of the most famous basketball players alive.
So when Barkley sat down on Pardon My Take and the conversation turned to golf plans with Jordan, it was a bigger deal than it looked on the surface. Reports say the two actually got back on speaking terms months back after a mutual friend put them on the phone together, and Barkley has been dropping details about the reconciliation ever since. This clip is Barkley live on the show, mid-golf-talk, clearly in a good mood about where things stand with His Airness.
Charles Barkley and MJ have officially reconciled @PardonMyTake
The backstory, if you missed it: Barkley has said the two were "selfish and stupid and stubborn" for letting the beef drag on as long as it did, and that Jordan has since invited him out to play golf. For two guys who used to be as close as brothers, patching things up over a golf date is about as Barkley-and-Jordan as it gets.
But Barkley wasn't just in a reconciliation mood — he also used the same sit-down to circle back to his other running storyline of the year: Draymond Green. Back in May, Draymond took a shot at Barkley's playing days, joking about not wanting to "look like him in a Rockets uniform." It blew up, Draymond issued a public apology, and most people figured that closed the book.
“Listen, Draymond is a good player. I was a great player… We’re not on the same level” -Charles Barkley on Pardon My Take
Barkley clearly didn't get the memo that the beef was over. Apology accepted, sure, but he still wanted the record straight: Draymond's a good player, Barkley was a great one, and those are not the same tier. Vintage Chuck — willing to bury one 14-year feud and start poking at a new one in the same breath.
Whatever mood Barkley's in, the internet's going to react to it, and this appearance was no different. One photo making the rounds framed Barkley as basically all of us — reacting to something on TV with maximum energy.
Charles Barkley is all of us
Net result: Barkley closes out one of the NBA's longest-running personal grudges and casually keeps another one alive, all in a single podcast stop. That's the Chuck experience — peace with Jordan, no peace for Draymond, and everybody talking about it either way.