Charles Barkley on Michael Jordan: I lost my best friend because I criticized him

It took us to the end of the podcast to get to LeBron, but Barkley offered a powerful message about the Lakers star, calling LeBron’s story the greatest in sports history. “I don’t get caught up in the silliness of who’s greater, LeBron or Michael or blah, blah, blah. I just think that that’s just easy pickins for guys,” Barkley said on SI Media With Jimmy Traina. “First of all, I think LeBron is a really nice man. I think he’s a really nice man and he’s a really good dude, but I’ll say this: I think his story, it’s the greatest story in sports history. People forget, Kobe Bryant wasn’t very good coming into the NBA. People forget that. And he’s one of the greatest ever, you know. Kevin Garnett struggled. -via Sports Illustrated / August 25, 2023

Charles Barkley: “The only guy I’ve ever seen come right out of high school who lived up was LeBron. And for him to come in at 18 and be as good as he was as a player, and obviously he’s come in and he’s one of the greatest ever, depending on what generation you’re from, and to never have gotten in trouble, especially in today’s society where everybody’s got a cellphone and everybody’s out to get you, I think his story is the greatest story in sports. To be that good. Number one, to live up to the hype, but also grow into the conversation of the GOAT and never even came close to getting in trouble. I think his story is the greatest story in sports history, and I’ll always admire him.” -via Sports Illustrated / August 25, 2023

Bill Simmons had Charles Barkley on as a guest and Chuck offered up a pretty hot take about the FIBA World Cup games. Barkley said basketball would be better off if Team USA actually lost the Gold Medal. Not just here in these FIBA World Cup games, but in the Olympics, too. Here’s why: “They act like if we don’t win the gold medal it’s going to be the worst thing to ever happen to civilization. I actually disagree with that. I think it’d be great. Because I think it’d really help with popularity in one of these little third-world countries if they won the gold medal. Can you imagine if France won the gold medal? How popular would basketball become in France?” -via USA Today Sports / August 25, 2023

Barkley was then asked whether he’s tired of talking about the end of his friendship with Jordan. “Yes! A hundred percent. A hundred percent! Because you know what, Jimmy, they act like we Prince William and Prince Harry. Like I said, Michael got mad about something. I said we haven’t spoken and now two times a year I have to defend. … I’m like, ‘Yo, man, Michael’s doing great, Charles is doing great.’ I wish him nothing but the best. But, like, dude, we’re not like Prince Harry and Prince William. We’re not taking shots and by backdoor channels all the time, Michael’s doing great, and I’m doing great.” -via Sports Illustrated / August 25, 2023

A rare, autographed pair of Michael Jordan’s sneakers are going up for auction. The trainers, known as Nike Air Ships, were worn before the popular Air Jordans were released in 1985 – making them the earliest known used shoes worn in a game by the basketball legend. -via The Independent / August 25, 2023

Jordan, now 60, previously wore the pair of Nikes during the fifth game of the 1984-85 NBA season, with scuff marks on the shoes to prove it. It was only the fifth game of his professional career. The NBA star then handed the shoes to local ball boy TJ Lewis after the game. Ultimately, Lewis sold the sneakers to Sotheby’s in 2021 for £1.16m ($1.47m), the then-highest sum ever paid for worn shoes. -via The Independent / August 25, 2023