Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley bury feud after 15-year silence

Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley ended a 15-year feud in April after a golf-course chat brokered by Vince Coleman.

What happened between Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley?

Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan buried a decade-plus grudge in April during a golf outing with Vince Coleman, a former MLB star and mutual friend. Barkley revealed the reunion on the Barstool Sports podcast *Pardon My Take* this week. The pair hadn’t spoken since 2012, when Barkley criticized Jordan’s ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats on Chicago radio.

Barkley opened with a blunt greeting when Coleman put them on the phone. “What’s up motherf-ker?” Barkley recalled saying. Jordan fired back the same line, jokingly. Both men admitted they missed each other’s friendship during the brief call. Jordan was out of the country at the time, but the two plan to play golf together soon.

Why the feud started over the Bobcats

The split traces to 2012, when Barkley questioned Jordan’s leadership with the Bobcats on the *Waddle and Silvy* show. “I think the biggest problem has been I don’t know if he has hired enough people around him who he will listen to,” Barkley said then. He argued that yes-men surrounded Jordan because they relied on his money and private jet.

Jordan sold the Bobcats in 2023, ending a rocky ownership run. The franchise later rebranded as the Hornets. Barkley’s 2012 comments stung Jordan, who had been a six-time NBA champion and global icon before buying the team.

What comes next for the two legends?

Barkley is eager to face Jordan on the golf course. “I’m really looking forward to putting my game up against him,” Barkley said. He added that they’ll meet at Jordan’s course, The Grove, when Jordan returns to the U.S.

Coleman pushed the two to talk after years of silence. “Yo, I’m down here at [Jordan’s golf course] The Grove. I’m sick of you and MJ’s BS. He’s right here. Y’all need to talk,” Coleman told Barkley on the call. The three-minute chat smoothed decades of tension.

What this means for Michael Jordan’s legacy

Jordan’s post-playing career has drawn scrutiny beyond his six NBA titles. His ownership stint with the Bobcats-now the Hornets-remains a sore spot for some observers. The reconciliation with Barkley removes one lingering stain on his reputation.

Barkley’s shift from critic to friend underscores how even bitter rivals can reset. The golf plans signal a thaw, but Jordan’s global schedule keeps the reunion on hold for now.