Any ’90s basketball fan would remember the historic 1992-93 season Sir Charles had with the Phoenix Suns. Charles Barkley, known for sharing his honest opinions about anything and everything, has often spoken about going head-to-head against Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the Finals. While MJ got the MVP honor, Barkley even lost his chance to win a title with the Suns. But were the two deserving of what they got?

In his latest interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Barkley once again claimed he deserved the MVP title. When asked about the reason, he boasted that he had a better record than the Bulls. “Hell yes. We had best record in the NBA that year. He a better player than me? Yes, he was, but that year the Phoenix Suns had the best record in the NBA,” Barkley claimed.

With a record of 62-20, the Suns finished first in the West. Meanwhile, the Bulls ended the season with a 57-25 record. Averaging 25.6 points and 5.1 assists in 76 games during the 1992-93 season, Barkley earned his seventh NBA All-Star selection. Chuck elevated his game after joining the Suns alongside Kevin Johnson. Barkley’s field goal percentages improved, and he became more consistent in his averages. This was a key factor in winning MVP that year.

And equally remarkable was Jordan, who averaged 32.6 points and 5.5 assists. This was across the 78 games that he played that season and went on to win his third Finals MVP.

Both players showcased their unique talents. While Jordan led the league in scoring, Barkley led the league in rebounding. Game 3 was one of the toughest for the Bulls, with Jordan struggling due to poor shooting. He managed to score 43 points on 19 of 43 shooting from the field, but the Bulls ultimately fell to the Suns, 129-121.

The competition between the two teams was intense. After Barkley teased Jordan about his shooting struggles, Jordan came back strong in Game 4, scoring an impressive 55 points on 21 of 37 shooting to secure a win. Barkley, on the other hand, delivered an impressive 32 points on 10 of 19 shooting. 

As one of the NBA’s most outspoken analysts, Barkley has always been honest with his words and isn’t hesitant to praise others. When asked about the 1992-93 season, he acknowledged that MJ was the better player.

In the Finals that year, the 6x NBA champion averaged a strong 41 points and 6.3 assists, while the Philadelphia 76ers legend posted 27.3 points and 5.5 assists. Both battled hard to win the title. In the end, it was the Bulls who won the title. But what did the Chicago No. 23 really think of Chuck?

What did Michael Jordan think about Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns?

During that time, Charles Barkley shared a close friendship with Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. He was even accused of partying too much with MJ. Many speculated that this contributed to the Phoenix Suns’ loss. However, Barkley always dismissed these claims, stating that Jordan was the player he wanted to beat the most.

Barkley’s efforts on the court were enough to show his motivation. As he pointed out, the Suns had a strong regular season. The team arguably had a better chance than the Bulls at winning the NBA championship. But despite his best efforts, he couldn’t defeat them.

When MJ was asked about it, he stated he never considered Barkley a real threat. “I wasn’t worried about Barkley. Cause I didn’t think he had the work ethic to beat us. And because I think he didn’t like to practice. But he was a genuine friend, don’t get me wrong! I also thought he was very funny, I enjoyed spending time with him. We liked playing golf,” MJ said as per Jackie MacMullan’s Icons Club.

In the end, both players walked away having lost something and earned something. Maybe Sir Charles more than His Airness.