Charles Barkley Explains Why He Hasn't Spoken to Michael Jordan in Almost 10 Years

Charles Barkley is addressing his longtime feud with former close friend Michael Jordan.

While appearing on Tom Brady‘s Let’s Go! podcast, Charles, 59, revealed that he hasn’t talked to Michael, also 59, in almost 10 years after he “said something that offended” the Bulls legend.

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“I think probably, me and Michael were best friends, that’s probably the most prominent thing,” Charles responded when Tom asked if there have been any ramifications for giving his opinions throughout his TV career.

“Michael Jordan, losing his friendship was probably the most prominent thing that’s happened to me. But I was being honest about what I thought. I said, ‘Listen, the toughest thing about Michael, he’s got to put better people around him,’” Charles recalled. “Because the toughest thing, when you’re famous, they’re on your private jet, you’re buying all the drinks, you’re buying all the dinners. Very few people are gonna be honest with you.”

He continued, “I try to surround myself with people like, ‘hey, if I’m screwing up, please tell me.’ And Michael got offended about something I said about him. And we haven’t spoken in probably almost 10 years. And he was my best friend at the time. And I love the dude like a brother and we’re both stubborn and we haven’t talked.”

Charles is referring to the comments he made in his 2012 interview on The Waddle & Silvy Show on ESPN 1000, when he said Michael “has not done a good job” as the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets) and the team had the NBA’s worst record at 4-29.

“I think the biggest problem has been I don’t know if he has hired enough people around him who he will listen to,” Charles said at the time, according to ESPN. “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.”