Charles Barkley may be a funny character sometimes, but his respect is hard to earn. In fact, he believes that only three of his fellow NBA legends deserve the utmost respect – Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
While other former NBA stars look up to Jordan, Bird and Johnson because of their skills, Barkley’s appreciation for the trio is deeper. For Chuck, he is forever indebted to the contributions of Magic and Larry Legend to the sport as a whole. As for MJ, Barkley feels honored to have shared the hardwood with the GOAT in several epic duels.
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“There are three guys, any time I see them, I pay homage to — Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, who saved the NBA and took it to an incredible level, and Michael Jordan,” the Hall of Fame power forward revealed in 2013. “We all know Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player ever. I was blessed to play in his era.”
Barkley recognizes MJ, Bird and Magic’s transcendence
In a separate discussion years later, Barkley expressed his admiration for Jordan, Johnson and Bird once again. He noted that these icons are widely respected not only in the NBA community but also outside the sport.
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Barkley emphasized that many great players succeeded during their playing years, but not all of them were able to build a legacy after retiring. In Chuck’s case, he takes great pride in his status as one of the most prominent and credible analysts in the game.
However, Barkley stated that what Jordan, Bird and Magic achieved even when their respective careers were over was something the sport had never witnessed before. The way Sir Charles sees it, MJ, Larry Legend and Johnson are among those select few who reached other audiences and markets outside basketball.
“There are very few players that transcend the sport,” the Hall of Fame forward said in an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. “The three most important figures in NBA history are Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. “There are a lot of great players, but there’s only a few guys who transcend the sport.”
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Jordan, Bird and Magic’s post-retirement legacies
Apart from the GOAT status, Mike morphed into a global icon with his Jordan Brand. He isn’t only making an outrageous amount of money but more importantly, his brand has became a status symbol in sports, fashion and pop culture.
Bird, meanwhile, proved that his greatness extended beyond playing. After retiring, Larry Legend embarked on a coaching job and became arguably the best coach in the league during that period. Bird also left his imprint on the Indiana Pacers as an executive.
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As for Magic, he is now considered one of the most successful athlete-turned-businessmen in history. He was able to build a diverse business empire through investments in various industries such as entertainment, food & beverage and sports team management.
Truth be told, it is easy to understand why Barkley could effortlessly separate Jordan, Bird and Magic from all the other all-time greats. Both on and off the court, the trio exceeded expectations in terms of individual achievements and impact. Moreover, Johnson also effectively used his platform to raise awareness and educate people, having famously survived HIV.
Truth be told, it is easy to understand why Barkley could effortlessly separate Jordan, Bird and Magic from all the other all-time greats. Both on and off the court, the trio exceeded expectations in terms of individual achievements and impact.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.