Having Shared an Addiction, Michael Jordan Brutally Silenced Charles Barkley on Live TV, Leaving Oprah Winfrey In Splits

Two NBA legends were rivals, best friends, and golf buddies who acted like frenemies every chance they got. Before their public falling out, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were two peas in a pod. They had a combined inclination for golf and gambling. They also remained friends after retiring from the league. And they never missed the chance to take jabs at one another on camera. Almost two decades ago, they got the biggest daytime talk show as their platform to trade jabs at each other.

His Airness and Sir Charles were seated together in front of Oprah Winfrey during her highly-rated show. But you’d think it was a Comedy Central roast with their interaction. And during that 2005 segment, MJ delivered a burn on Chuck’s title-less career.

Michael Jordan reveals Charles Barkley’s winning mentality

Oprah Winfrey had two NBA legends on her show in 2005 and it was epic. Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley spoke about some serious basketball subjects. And they also managed to insert some burns at each other. One moment from the show has resurfaced on the Internet to highlight the two NBA legends’ friendship. They’ve had some hilarious shots at one another but MJ scored on this one.

The Chicago Bulls legend started with a motorcycle metaphor. “When you ride a motorcycle, you have to be a defensive rider…You don’t have time to talk on the phone, you don’t have time to eat. You don’t have time to do a lot of things most people do every single day, which is more dangerous than riding a motorcycle.”

READ MORE: Best Friends to Foes, What Happened Between Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley?

Jordan further added, “You’ve got to be really focused on seeing the traffic ahead.” And that’s where the PSA ended.

Pointing at Barkley, MJ then said, “He doesn’t know about this. He’s never ridden a motorcycle. He never understands what it takes to be a winner.”

That’s 1-0 for Jordan.

Literally, we don’t know if the Phoenix Suns legend has ever ridden a motorcycle. But Jordan uses it as a metaphor for a winning mentality, or Chuck’s lack thereof.

Barkley’s unintentional revenge on Jordan

Barkley may not be an NBA champion but he took Jordan’s joke like a champ.

He laughed it off at that moment along with Winfrey and the live audience. But Jordan didn’t stop there. He went after Barkley’s embarrassing golf skills too. Jordan acted traumatized at the prospect of watching Chuck play golf, moaning, “No, no please.”

Jordan has refused to play golf with Barkley because of his bad form. But that’s not why they aren’t golf buddies anymore.

Barkley and Jordan haven’t been friends since 2012 after a public feud. Back then, Jordan was a new NBA owner with the Charlotte Hornets and Barkley was making a presence in the broadcasting business. Barkley criticized his friend for the Hornets’ decline which didn’t sit well with the billionaire.

They’ve never spoken to each other since. So these little throwbacks are all we have of a once awesome friendship.

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