Charles Barkley: Michael Jordan 'Has Not Done A Great Job' As Bobcats Owner

Another day. Another Charles Barkley radio interview. Another victim of the TNT analyst's criticism. This time, Barkley ripped his good friend Michael Jordan for his failures as an NBA executive and part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Appearing on ESPN's Waddle & Silvy Show, Barkley said that Air Jordan hasn't hired enough people around him who are willing to disagree with him.

"One thing about being famous is the people around you, you pay all their bills so they very rarely disagree with you because they want you to pick up the check," he said. "They want to fly around on your private jet so they never disagree with you. I don't think Michael has hired enough people around him who will disagree. I can't get on here and tell you he's done a great job. He has not done a great job, plain and simple."

The Bobcats have won just four games so far this season and since Jordan became a part owner in 2006, they have only had one winning season (which earned the first playoff berth in franchise history). Barkley noted that Jordan decided to take Gonzaga's Adam Morrison with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft despite Barkley's disagreement. Morrison ended up playing just 28 games total in the NBA. He is now playing overseas.

Jordan also struggled as an executive for the Washington Wizards. One of his biggest failures came in 2001 when he selected Kwame Brown with the No. 1 overall pick. In 11 seasons, Brown has only averaged 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds and has played for six teams.

Comments

[Hans Bickel]

01:40 AM on 03/07/2012

After the good karma comes the bad.

[Mailman]

08:05 AM on 03/05/2012

If Michael was smart he'd sell this mess and let someone with the understanding of managing a team takeover. But I doubt he will.

[Steve-o-k]

07:24 PM on 03/04/2012

In an about the peak rise of Jordan was also when basketball stopped being a team sport. His championships are a complete and direct result of playing on a good team and being surrounded by excellent players..

This also reminds me of a Larry Bird quote when MJ scored sixty against the Celtics and still lost. Larry said, " He can score 100 points. It still doesn't matter, we will win. And the celtics did..

[montanbud]

09:28 AM on 03/05/2012

Bird three (3) championships...Jordan six (6) championships....nuff said

[Nick Stuart]

05:04 PM on 03/04/2012

Adam Morrison...will always be a Laker.

[Mister President]

10:39 AM on 03/04/2012

Jordan's accomplished enough. He should just go out and play golf, do some charity work and make a few Hanes commercials every year. He's not cut out for an executive role.

[rsttho557949]

07:02 PM on 03/03/2012

It’s hard for a former superstar to be a good coach or GM. They were blessed with God given talent but that doesn't mean they were given with insight and patience. In baseball, the best batting coaches were never the guys hitting .320 but were the .265-.280 hitters. The gifted hitters can't teach what God has given them. The guy that made it to the majors had major league talent but came up with techniques for him to survive at that level. It is those teachable survival techniques that can apply to coaching or management. I just don't think that an ex superstar can be a good coach or GM. Notice that with Barkley, it is easy to criticize, but he has yet- with all his insight- to be offered GM job. Talk is cheap.

[Jason Ungar]

10:47 PM on 03/03/2012

But, you have no idea what Barkley is offered or not been offered. He has a pretty nice gig with minimal headaches and gets to be in the game he loves. And he is paid to give these opinions, and in this case he is right. And this idea that a superstar is blessed with god given talent is a slap in the face. No one worked harder at being a great basketball player than someone like Jordan (who I dislike). He probably does not work nearly as hard at being a great GM or owner and one day I am sure he will admit that.

[rsttho557949]

11:28 PM on 03/03/2012

You mihgt be right. I still beleive that a former player would love to be part of creating a team and a championship team.

[magnetplanner]

10:57 PM on 03/03/2012

I think Jerry West would disagree.

[rsttho557949]

11:31 PM on 03/03/2012

magnetplanner

"I think Jerry West would disagree."

BAM! I would agree that the "logo" is the exception to the rule.

[Flight]

05:55 PM on 03/03/2012

Trust me..as a resident of Charlotte, we were exposed to the things that are wrong with the NBA, and that's pretty much why we helped get rid of the Charlotte Hornets...bad management, bad or mediocre players, diva attitudes, wanting tax payers to keep subsidizing the millionaires...we had enough and voted 'down' the new arena that politcians forced anyway. Even with native son Jordan, we did not want or embrace Bob Johnson when he pitched the Bobcats and the 'new' approach. Yea, ok. They haven't had a winning season since they arrived here.

[SweetLemonPie]

02:32 PM on 03/03/2012

As much as I find Barkley annoying at times, in this case he certainly has a point. Jordan should consider consulting in him where it counts most.

[Amir Abdeh]

12:12 PM on 03/03/2012

4 games, wow!

[mr whiteffolks]

09:30 AM on 03/03/2012

Just because Jordan was a great player doesn't mean that translate to the front office !

[Jacob007]

08:44 AM on 03/03/2012

Jordan has learn from the great Donald Sterling you don't need a great team to make money. Jordan has a new house. Upgraded on his first wife. Life is good.

[Puzzlr]

10:30 PM on 03/03/2012

Who will promptly get pregnant, if she's not already. There goes the other half!

[jstjoe]

04:54 AM on 03/03/2012

...he was MUCH better at baseball.

[Ryan Schmidt]

12:30 AM on 03/03/2012

1st time in his life Barkley has gone against Jordan.. He'll probably get in trouble for it from Jordan now.

MJ doesn't like ppl would talk poorly of him..

[mr whiteffolks]

09:32 AM on 03/03/2012

That's not the first time Barkley has ripped Michael ! He ripped Jordan about the overpriced Air Jordan line of athletic apparel years ago.

[SimianNation]

10:11 AM on 03/03/2012

That was his point!

[schrodster]

11:57 PM on 03/02/2012

They've won 4 games. What did you expect him to say?

[CommunistMold]

11:30 PM on 03/02/2012

Mike is a degenerate gambler. What did you expect.