Charles Barkley wants to bury the hatchet with Michael Jordan after a 10-year feud

A decade is a long time to not speak with someone — much less a person you once considered your best friend. However, that's the reality NBA legend Charles Barkley faces regarding his former best buddy, fellow NBA legend Michael Jordan. 

Barkley recently opened up in an interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks about how he'd love to mend their relationship and move past the hurt feelings that have kept them apart for so long.

Unfortunate situation

The rift began in 2012 when Barkley called Jordan out on how he was handling the then-Charlotte Bobcats, who finished that season with the league's worst record at 7-59.

"It's a really unfortunate situation for me and him. But I'm going to do my job, first and foremost, because I can't criticize other coaches and general managers and give him a pass because he's my best friend. I just can't do that," Barkley said. "What I said was, 'Michael's got to surround himself with better people. And I worry about him being successful.'"

Barkley believed that Jordan had surrounded himself with "yes men" and was doing himself a disservice by not having people around him who wouldn't be afraid to tell him when he made mistakes.

"I said that, and I had no problem saying it, because it was the truth," Charles said. "And he took offense. And he called me, and it wasn't a pleasant conversation, and we haven't spoken since then."

Two stubborn people

While Barkley certainly has a point with Charlotte making the NBA playoffs just three times in the last 10 years and never getting past the first round, he knows that Jordan has a stubborn streak in him and that both of them are quite strong-willed people. 

As a result, once close friends are now at a point where they had found themselves in the same room five times but had never spoken to each other. In the end, Barkley is hopeful that one day they will reconcile their differences and reunite their friendship. 

When asked by Rooks what he would say if His Airness were in front of him, Barkley answered: "I probably would say, 'What I said, I believed. I'm sorry you took offense to it. And let's get past this bulls*** and get back to playing golf and having fun.'"