Kenny Smith is sort of caught in the middle of the feud between Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, but the former NBA point guard is not afraid to say who he thinks is right and who is wrong in the ongoing beef.
In a brief interview with TMZ over the weekend, Smith said he believes Barkley should apologize to Jordan.
“All he has to do is make a phone call if he misses him,” Smith said. “I think the one thing both Charles and Michael have is a lot of pride. Once the pride settles down … I do think Charles was wrong. Mike’s doing a great job. (Barkley) should apologize. (Jordan’s) doing a great job.”
Barkley has maintained that he was only doing his job, and it’s hard to argue with him. Barkley said his relationship with Jordan went south when Sir Charles criticized the job his former Dream Team teammate has done running the then-Charlotte Bobcats.
“I think some people, when you’re their friend, they expect you to have their back no matter what,” Barkley explained previously. “Part of my job sucks, but I have to criticize people I like or are friends. … He took it personal and got really angry.”
Charlotte has made the playoffs just three times since Jordan became an owner in 2006, and they have lost in the first round each time. Last season, they took their series against the Miami Heat to seven games. They were swept the two times before that, so you can understand why Barkley was critical of the direction of the franchise.
We know Barkley’s outspokenness can rub people the wrong way, and that is obviously also true for his friends. The story of why he is no longer friends with Tiger Woods is even more interesting.
