Charles Barkley doesn’t sound optimistic about a reconciliation with Michael Jordan

Charles Barkley is pessimistic about the fact that his longtime friendship with Michael Jordan will end with a reconciliation.

Eight years ago Barkley criticized Michael Jordan for how he was running the Charlotte Bobcats and since that date their friendship ended.

Per ESPN, "The guy was like a brother to me for, shoot, 20-something years," Barkley said on Tuesday’s Waddle and Silvy Show on ESPN 1000 in Chicago. "At least 20-something years. And I do, I feel sadness. But to me he’s still the greatest basketball player ever. I wish him nothing but the best. But, there’s nothing I can do about it, brother."

Barkley, who has been a frequent guest on the program for more than a decade, originally made his comments on the same show over eight years ago . The relationship has been broken ever since.

"The thing that bothered me the most about that whole thing, I don’t think that I said anything that bad," Barkley said. "I’m pretty sure I said, ‘As much as I love Michael, until he stops hiring them kiss-asses, and his best friends, he’s never going to be successful as a general manager.’ And I remember pretty much verbatim I said that. And the thing that really pissed me off about it later is Phil Jackson said the exact same thing."