Charles Barkley Slams Former Best Friend Michael Jordan’s NBC Stint: “It’s Just a Bad Look”

Charles Barkley was excited for Michael Jordan and NBC's collaboration as it would have revived fan interest in the NBA.

Charles Barkley Slams Former Best Friend Michael Jordan’s NBC Stint: “It’s Just a Bad Look”

Michael Jordan and former best friend Charles Barkley (Image via FirstSportz)

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Those who witnessed the friendship between Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan in the ’90s would not have believed that the two were not on speaking terms three decades later.

When they were on the court, they would compete at the highest level, and the 1993 MVP race was at the peak of their on-court rivalry. Off the court, the two were inseparable.

Tales of them hitting casinos and gambling hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single night are legendary. Then there was that epic Oprah Winfrey episode, where their bromance captured the imagination of the entire sports nation.

Fast forward to now, and they do not talk to each other. At the NBA’s 75th Anniversary celebration, Michael Jordan’s anger towards his former best friend was evident, as Charles Barkley was the only one who did not get a handshake.

But unlike Isiah Thomas, the Round Mound of Rebound has not wavered from his opinion about who the best player in the history of the game was. However, when it came to a different subject, the 62-year-old was critical.

Now you see this thing coming out with NBC and you’re like, ‘Wait, you all did one interview five months ago, and you’re all gonna sprinkle it throughout the season?’ Come on, man. That’s disingenuous by NBC. That’s crazy. I’m so disappointed at the way that worked out.

Charles Barkley said on SiriusXM NBA Radio

The Inside the NBA panelist felt that the entire Michael Jordan ‘special contributor’ role with NBC did not work the way it was billed to be. Instead, the network fumbled it as the impact could have been better.

Charles Barkley blames NBC for not getting more out of Michael Jordan

While talking about the special contributor role Michael Jordan signed to produce with NBC, Charles Barkley went on to pin the blame on the network.

Mike Tirico and Michael Jordan on NBC
Mike Tirico and Michael Jordan on NBC (Image via NBC/YT)

It’s a bad look for NBC, it’s just a bad look, plain and simple. They couldn’t fly to Michael like once a month and do a new interview? That makes NBC look really bad, plain and simple.

Charles Barkley said

The Philadelphia 76ers great added that NBC Jordan being associated with the NBA was going to help bring lots of fans back to the league. He was excited as His Airness has that kind of a pull.

But just a few episodes cut out from one interview is not going to cut it. Barkley, just as the masses of basketball fans had hoped, that Jordan’s episodes would be a regular feature throughout the season.

Instead, fans have been disappointed, as they hoped for a lot more from the greatest player to ever play the game. Charles Barkley hopes they do not make such mistakes again.

Caitlin Clark to assume Michael Jordan’s role for a few games

With Michael Jordan‘s episodes over, NBC needed someone that fans have been drawn to, so that they could reignite the interest in their broadcast.

Enter WNBA and Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark, who will be joining in the role of ‘special contributor’ for Basketball Night in America. This program will precede Sunday Night Basketball, which NBC will debut on February 1st when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the New York Knicks at the hallowed Madison Square Garden.

The recently turned 24-year-old will join the network’s pregame crew of host Maria Taylor and analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady.

Again, like Jordan, this will not be a regular feature. Clark will return for one more appearance on March 29th at Paycom Center in Oklahoma when the Thunder will welcome the Knicks. If the network listens to Charles Barkley‘s advice, maybe they should look at signing her on as a regular, so that basketball fans are not left wanting more.

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