Charles Barkley played most of his NBA career at the same time as Michael Jordan, and the two were also teammates on Team USA during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, so they knew each other well on the court. Based on that experience, the former power forward made an unexpected claim.
“Listen. Michael, he can’t guard me in the post. He’s too little,” Barkley said in a recent interview on The Dan Patrick Show. “I said it to him a thousand times. ‘Little man, you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time.’”
The host immediately pointed out to Chuck that Jordan is actually taller than him (though both are officially listed at 6’6”). “He’s too little, though,” insisted the 1993 NBA MVP. “He can jump,” Patrick replied. “Yeah, he’s gonna fly. Because I’m going to hit him with my elbow, he’s going to fly,” responded the former forward.
The conversation then shifted to the opposite scenario—Barkley guarding Jordan. “I can’t guard him,” Charles admitted, before sharing a story from his playing days. “It was really funny. One time, we switched out, and I got in my defensive stance, and he just started laughing. He did. He looked at me and just started laughing. He just said, ‘Are you serious right now?’ And he actually passed the ball because he was laughing so hard.”
Charles Barkley playing with the Sixers in 1984.
Barkley’s picks for the best defenders in NBA history
The topic of Jordan’s defense came up in response to a recent comment from Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who called Draymond Green the best defender he’s ever seen. “Draymond is a heck of a player, he’s a really good player, he’s a really good defender… But he’s not a better than Michael (Jordan), Kobe (Bryant), Dennis Rodman,” said the former Phoenix Suns star.
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Dan Patrick then pointed out that Barkley hadn’t mentioned Scottie Pippen, claiming the Chicago Bulls legend could guard everybody. “He couldn’t guard me,” said Barkley. “They doubled me with Horace Grant. Let’s get that out the way. But I’ll agree. Scottie is a better defender than Draymond, I give him his flowers.”
Barkley felt unstoppable in his playing days
Finally, Charles Barkley shared his view on defense against NBA superstars. “There is no great player who can be stopped,” he said. “You can make him work hard. But that notion that you’re gonna stop a great player, that’s insane.”
Reflecting on his own NBA career, the former forward was candid. “I never had to worry about that… I felt like I was going to get double teamed 95% of the time. I never thought that one guy could guard me,” he said. “I’m not even worried about the guy that guards me. Because I’m always looking past the defender. I don’t care who it is. I don’t care if it’s Rodman, I don’t care if it is Kevin McHale, who was a great defender, the best player I ever played against.”
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