Charles Barkley is just one of the many Hall of Famers denied a chance of an NBA title by the '90s Chicago Bulls team led by Michael Jordan. His best shot at the title came in the 1992-93 season when the 6-foot-6 forward led the Phoenix Suns to the Finals.
In an appearance on Episode 6 of ESPN's “The Last Dance” documentary aired on Sunday (May 3), Chuck recalled the exact moment he realized that Jordan was indeed the more superior player than him.
“Game 2 I played as well as I could play, and Michael just outplayed me. That was probably the first time in my life that I felt like there was a better basketball player in the world than me, to be honest with you,” Barkley said in a surprising moment in “The Last Dance.”
After dropping Game 1 at home, Barkley and the Suns came out swinging against the defending champions. Bulls defenders were helpless against Sir Charles, who poured in 42 points on 16-for-26 shooting on top of 13 rebounds and four dimes.
However, Jordan did not back down against Barkley, as he also tallied a near triple-double of 42 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. MJ was once again heroic in the fourth period, powering the Bulls to a 111-108 verdict to take a 2-0 series lead.
Entering the Finals, Barkley was hailed NBA MVP after leading Phoenix to a league-best 62–20 record.
He was phenomenal in the Finals against Chicago, norming 27.3 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in six games. But the Suns were simply no match against Jordan and company, as the Bulls completed their first three-peat at their expense.
Michael Jordan's conquest of a prime Charles Barkley solidifies his legendary status as the Greatest of All Time, and Chuck's latest remarks in “The Last Dance” only fuels that narrative even more.
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