Charles Barkley Admits the Only Player He Ever Considered Better

Charles Barkley built his Hall of Fame career on dominance and unapologetic confidence. An MVP, 11-time All-Star, and one of the most feared forces in the paint, Barkley often declared himself the best player alive. But in a candid July 11, 2025 interview on The Dan Patrick Show, he revealed the one man who changed his mind: Michael Jordan.

“I did not think Michael Jordan was better than me till he beat me in the Finals,” Barkley admitted, reflecting on the 1993 NBA Finals when his Suns fell to the Bulls.

Even before that, Dream Team coach Chuck Daly had warned him during a Team USA practice: “You’re the second-best player in the world. That guy right over there is the best.” Daly was pointing to Jordan. Barkley pushed back, determined to prove him wrong.

But after losing to Chicago in six games, Barkley confessed to his young daughter: “I think that guy might be better at basketball than I am.”

For Barkley, only one name ever earned that respect. “Michael Jordan was the only player I ever thought was better than me.”