Charles Barkley has never been afraid to speak his mind, but his latest story about Michael Jordan might be one of his most emotional yet.
The Hall of Famer recently revealed a heartbreaking moment from the 1993 NBA Finals, when his young daughter burst into tears after watching her dad lose to Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
“I remember going home, and my daughter was crying,” Barkley shared on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. “She said, ‘Dad, you told me you all were going to win.’”
Jordan Was Just Too Good
That Finals series was one of the most iconic of the era. Barkley, the league MVP that season, led the Phoenix Suns into a clash with the reigning champion Bulls. But despite his dominant performance, 21 points and 17 rebounds in Game 6, the Suns fell short.
Jordan was simply too much.
The Bulls sealed the title with a 99–98 win in Game 6, capped by John Paxson’s legendary three-pointer, and MJ walked away averaging an unbelievable 41 points per game for the series.
“He’s Better Than Me” — A Rare Admission
Barkley said that moment with his daughter forced him to admit something he had never said before.
“I got to be honest with you, that guy’s better at basketball than me,” he told her.
“I’m not giving up. But I’ve never said that about anybody. It’s a team game. But he is actually better.”
It was a rare moment of vulnerability from a player who was known throughout his career for his toughness, confidence, and trash talk. But it also underscored the dominance of Jordan during the Bulls’ first three-peat — and how even elite opponents like Barkley had to respect it.
Legacy of Respect, Rivalry, and Pain
For Barkley, the loss wasn’t just another series — it became part of a lifelong narrative of both admiration and what-ifs. It’s one of the few times he’s publicly acknowledged defeat in such personal terms. And it added another chapter to the deep-rooted respect Barkley has shown for Jordan ever since.
Barkley Still Picks Jordan Over LeBron in GOAT Debate
Barkley hasn’t wavered in his opinion of Jordan since.
In a separate appearance on Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich, the TNT analyst doubled down on calling Jordan the greatest of all time, and placed LeBron James all the way down at No. 7 on his personal all-time list.
“LeBron on my list? He’s number seven,” Barkley said.
“He’s behind Wilt, Kareem, Bill Russell, Michael, Oscar, and Kobe.”
His reasoning? Dominance at your peak matters more than career totals.
“LeBron has played how many more seasons than MJ and he’s still behind him? That’s crazy.”
Even though LeBron has shattered records, including becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer — Barkley believes Jordan’s run of dominance in fewer seasons still makes him the benchmark for greatness.
And it’s clear that for Barkley, the pain of 1993 wasn’t just professional — it was deeply personal.