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“He Didn’t Work Harder Than Us”: Despite Aggravating Michael Jordan Beef in Public, Charles Barkley Still Bowed Down to MJ, Says Chris Tucker

Published 03/28/2023, 1:14 AM EDT

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With the upcoming Michael Jordan movie Air only about a week away from its release in theatres around the country, it was natural to see the star cast go sneaker shopping with Complex. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Chris Tucker came together to not only promote their film but also to add to their collection of sneakers. However, during the episode featuring the cast, Chris Tucker revealed how NBA icon Charles Barkley bowed down to the great MJ.

Philadelphia 76ers legend Charles Barkley and Michael Jodan were great friends during their time in the league. Despite Jordan playing for the Chicago Bulls, Barkley and MJ would often spend time off the court. Chris Tucker elaborated on their current relationship.

Chris Tucker talks about Barkley’s comments on MJ

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The relationship between Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan started deteriorating over the years. The two had a falling out after they retired and moved on to others avenues in their lives.

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However, the final nail in the coffin was Barkley openly criticizing Michael Jordan on the way he handled the Charlotte Hornets as a general manager. Since then, Jordan has apparently decided to cut ties with his former friend.

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On a new episode of Complex, Chris Tucker revealed how Charles Barkley still had immense respect for the Chicago Bulls legend, despite their falling-out. Tucker said, “Charles Barkley told me, ‘I said what made Michael so great?’ He said, he’s just better than everybody else. He didn’t work harder than us, he just better than everybody. That’s it. And I’m like, ‘What?’”

It’s no surprise that Barkley gave props to Jordan for his skills on the basketball court despite whatever beef they may have had. Several NBA legends have acknowledged how class-apart MJ really is.

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NBA icons tip their hats to Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan has always been argued as the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball. His perfect finals record along with his multiple accolades only solidify the argument.

However, it is how other NBA legends and the way they talk about ‘Mike’ and what he did on the court that really serves to cement his position. Players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and many others were always left in awe of how Jordan did what he did on the court.

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Watch This Story – Three NBA legends who think LeBron James beats Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate

The three actors on Complex also spoke about how Larry Bird ended up tipping his hat to Michael Jordan after he dropped 63 points on the Boston Celtics in the playoffs. So, it is no surprise that Charles Barkley, after everything that happened between him and Michael Jordan, still gives credit where it is surely due.

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Written by:

Abhishek Dhariwal

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Abhishek Dhariwal is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He earned his bachelor's degree in English Honors from St. Xavier's College and his master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from AAFT School of Mass Communication and Journalism.
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Edited by:

Aayush Kapoor