Years Before Breaking Friendship, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley Wagered $500 in a Petty Bet

Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were the best of friends at one point in time. Although they were rivals on the court, they shared a close relationship together and were often seen golfing and gambling together.

Apart from their various mutual interests, wagering an absurd amount of money on gambling was a common interest for the two. Interestingly enough, back in 2002 when Jordan played for the Wizards, he put a bet for a hilarious reason. It was for Barkley’s body weight during that time.

Michael Jordan put a hilarious bet on Charles Barkley’s weight

There is no denying that Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were two of the best players in the league. Their love for gambling and golf made them the best of friends. However, their relationship turned sour a few years later after they had both retired from the NBA.

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Jordan and Barkley always bantered around with each other. Back in 2002, when Jordan played for the Washington Wizards, he called Barkley. During the call, the two agreed on a $500 bet for a very petty reason.

Barkley was confident that his body weight was well below 285 pounds. On the other hand, Jordan was certain that the NBA Hall of Famer still weighed over 290 pounds although he had adapted to a healthy lifestyle.

“Hell, yeah, I’ll bet you. We’ll go five hundred. Yeah, I’ll do it. No, not on TV. I’ll do it after I work out today”, said Barkley on the call with MJ. Barkley was set for a TNT weigh-in six weeks after his conversation with Jordan and he was pretty confident regarding his weight. 

Why don’t Jordan and Barkley talk to each other now?

Talking with Tom Brady and Jim Gray on a recent podcast, Barkley opened up about his relationship with MJ. According to him, they haven’t spoken in 10 years!

Their relationship turned sour in 2012 when Barkley bashed Jordan’s executive skills. Barkley had taken shots at Jordan’s time with the Wizards and the Charlotte Hornets. 10 years down the line, Jordan still hasn’t forgiven his old friend for his critical remarks.

WATCH THIS STORY: Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan’s wildest gambling stories.

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