Jordan knew that Barkley and Ewing would be more upset than anyone when he retired in 1998.
Michael Jordan‘s GOAT status isn’t just built on six championship rings — it’s rooted in how he dominated an era stacked with greatness. The 1980s and ’90s were filled with Hall of Famers and generational talents, yet time and again, Jordan stood in their way, denying them the ultimate success and cementing his own legacy in the process.
When Jordan retired in 1998, fans around the world felt the void. But the five-time MVP himself hinted humorously that two players might have felt it differently — Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley.
Not because they admired him any less, but because his presence had repeatedly blocked their path to a championship. In Jordan’s eyes, both those players would never have the satisfaction of beating him for a title.
“Patrick won’t be able to live with himself,” Jordan said with a big smile on his face. “And I always told Charles he never was dedicated enough to winning.”
Jordan repeatedly bossed Ewing and Barkley
Ewing‘s battles with Jordan were intense and, on certain occasions, even impressive individually. He outscored Mike in 14 of the 70 games they played against each other, famously scoring 42 points against the Chicago Bulls in a contest during the 1987-88 season, when the latter had 40.
But when it truly mattered, the outcome rarely changed.
Whether it was the 1989 Eastern Conference semifinals, the 1991 playoff battle, the 1993 Eastern Conference finals, or even a playoff battle in 1996, Jordan consistently led his Bulls past Ewing’s New York Knicks.
That pattern was almost the same, and what’s worse for Ewing, Jordan defeated him, retired, came back and then ended his title hopes again — all in a span when the Knicks legend was in his prime.
The story wasn’t much different for Barkley.
Many remember that Charles outperformed Michael to win the MVP award in 1993, only to lose in the championship round to the Bulls. But Jordan’s supremacy over Barkley showed throughout the latter’s years with the Philadelphia 76ers. Jordan led his Bulls past Barkley’s Sixers in the 1990 and 1991 Eastern Conference semifinals.