Michael Jordan revealed why he is careful who he brings into his inner circle: “My friendships have been built over time” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Forging meaningful friendships can be problematic for bona fide celebrities. Between fame, popularity, and, most importantly, wealth, it can be tough to gauge someone’s true intentions. Basketball megastar and icon Michael Jordan dealt with this as he rose from a little-known high school prospect to arguably one of the greatest athletes in sports history.
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In a talk with the late, great ESPN broadcaster Stuart Scott, MJ pulled back the curtain and revealed how he developed several lifelong relationships in the league and off it. He said these relationships developed over a long period, not overnight.
Trust has to be built to get into MJ’s circle
Fame and money can bring many people out of the woodwork. From long-lost “relatives” to “childhood friends” suddenly appearing, it can be overwhelming for any celebrity. However, Jordan recognized the importance of building trust and maintaining genuine relationships. This is why many of the people he surrounded himself with during his time in the league had been part of his life long before he earned the title of “Air Jordan.”
“Friends are built over time. It’s not built over short periods of time, you know, and my friendship has been built over time, long periods of time where gradually my trust in you has increased,” Mike shared.
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“You know, and those seven guys that are hanging with me have been with me ever since I came into Chicago. You know, they didn’t really start traveling to me, with me, until after a seven or eight-year period. And then that’s how trust is built,” he stressed. “You know, my true true friends are the ones that I grew up with — David Bridges, Buzz Peterson — those type of guys who have known me way before I could, you know, shoot a basketball.”
MJ has a select group of friends in the NBA
Despite his fiercely competitive nature, Mike forged friendships with a few former rivals. Among them was Patrick Ewing, whom he faced in college before Ewing became the long-time superstar of the New York Knicks. Another was Charles Barkley, the undersized yet formidable power forward who battled Mike for the 1993 NBA championship.
“Then along the way, I’ve grown with other friendships. You know, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Ahmad Rashad, all these type of guys who over a period of time we’ve become closer,” Jordan revealed. “You know, and that’s how I value friendship, is a period of time of being and knowing that person.”
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Unfortunately, Mike’s friendship with Chuck is over at the moment. This stemmed from Charles’ criticism of MJ’s management of the Charlotte Hornets, especially when MJ surrounded himself with people who would pander to him and not challenge his decisions.
“I was being honest about what I thought. I said, ‘Listen, the toughest thing about Michael, he’s got to put better people around him.’ Because the toughest thing, when you’re famous, they’re on your private jet, you’re buying all the drinks, you’re buying all the dinners. Very few people are gonna be honest with you,” Barkley exclaimed. “Michael got offended about something I said about him. And we haven’t spoken in probably almost 10 years.”
It can be difficult for superstar athletes to discern the genuine intentions of those around them. With all the fame, wealth, and power that comes with being at the top of their respective sports, it can be tempting for these athletes to surround themselves with people who will cater to their every need and desire. Fortunately for Jordan, he has established a small circle of friends who he knows inside and out.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.