‘Apologize, Chuck!’ Charles Barkley should make amends with Michael Jordan after ripping him as an NBA team owner in 2012 and igniting a decade-long feud, says Kenny Smith
Kenny Smith is picking his fellow North Carolina Tar Heel over his broadcaster partner in the ongoing feud between Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley.
When asked by TMZ for his take on the situation, Smith says it is Barkley who should make amends.
‘Apologize, Chuck,’ Smith said. ‘You were in the wrong. He’s always in the wrong. I don’t want to speak to Chuck today, either.’
As Barkley explained during a recent appearance on the ‘All The Smoke’ podcast, he and Jordan have not spoken since the TNT host criticized Jordan’s performance as an NBA owner in 2012. It’s been known that the two longtime friends had a blowout over Barkley’s comments, but the exact exchange was never revealed publicly.
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‘He went ballistic, and he called me and the last thing I heard was ”motherf*****, f*** you, you’re supposed to be my boy,”’ Barkley told podcast hosts Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, both former NBA players themselves.
Kenny Smith (left) is picking his fellow North Carolina Tar Heel over his broadcaster partner in the ongoing feud between Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley (right)
As Barkley explained during a recent appearance on the ‘All The Smoke’ podcast, he and Jordan have not spoken since the TNT host criticized Jordan’s performance as an NBA owner in 2012. It’s been known that the two longtime friends had a blowout over Barkley’s comments, but the exact exchange was never revealed publicly
‘I said ‘man, I’ve got to do my job,’ Barkley continued, explaining that he’s supposed to be impartial as an NBA analyst for TNT. ‘We haven’t spoken since that night and that was probably close to 10 years ago.’
Jordan previously told Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks that he wants to ‘get past the bullsh***’ with Jordan, but that it’s up to the six-time NBA champion to end their beef.
‘That’s on his end. He was my best friend at the time, and I love the guy and I miss the guy,’ Barkley said.
‘I thought it would blow over, to be honest with you. And he’s stubborn — and I’m stubborn — and that’s it.’
The two had been friends for more than 20 years when things fell apart in 2012, shortly after Jordan became the managing owner of Charlotte’s NBA franchise (known then as the ‘Bobcats’ but now the ‘Hornets’).
During an interview, Barkley had suggested that Jordan needs to circle himself with people willing to tell him the truth as opposed to a group of ‘Yes’ men.
Jordan’s tenure as owner of the Hornets has not been particularly successful. The team has only two playoff appearances since he bought the club in 2010, and is now 15-39 during the first season of coach Steve Clifford’s second tenure in Charlotte.
Kenny Smith shakes hands with Michael Jordan, his fellow Brooklyn-born UNC alum, before the game on January 3, 1996 at the United Center
Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls and Charles Barkley #34 of the Phoenix Suns before a game at the United Center in Chicago in 1993
