In 1987, Charles Barkley tried to intimidate Michael Jordan before a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls.
But as history shows, that only fueled Jordan’s determination and led to one of his most dominant performances of the season.
It was January 17, 1987, when Barkley made a bold pre-game statement that he wouldn’t allow Jordan to dominate.
What followed became a lesson in what not to do when facing one of the most competitive players in basketball history.
Charles Barkley’s words come back to haunt him
Jordan not only responded but completely silenced Barkley with a performance that has since become part of NBA legend.
“I won’t let Michael Jordan score 40 points if I have to break him up into little pieces,” Barkley declared confidently before tip-off, setting the tone for what was supposed to be a physical battle between two stars of the 1980s. The statement, though bold, would soon backfire in spectacular fashion.
When the game began, Jordan made it clear that he was not one to be intimidated. The Bulls star exploded for 47 points, leading Chicago to a commanding win over Philadelphia. Barkley, known for his outspoken personality, was left humbled by the result. After the game, his tone changed.
“I was just kidding when I said that. But I don’t want him to score a lot of points and embarrass us,” Barkley later admitted, acknowledging that Jordan had used his comments as motivation to dominate the Sixers on both ends of the floor.
Michael Jordan’s calm but ruthless response
Jordan’s postgame comments perfectly reflected the mindset that defined his career. When asked about Barkley’s remarks, he dismissed the talk as irrelevant and stayed focused on his performance and leadership.
“I’d advise him to worry about the game. The only thing he can do is speak for himself. Whatever he says doesn’t matter. I’ll just put it out of my mind.
“He doesn’t set the tone for my motivation. I won’t let him do that. I won’t let him rattle me,” MJ said.
That calm confidence became Jordan’s trademark. Instead of responding with words, he responded with results.
Jordan’s 47-point performance that night was a reminder of why he was already one of the NBA’s most feared players, even before the Bulls’ championship era began.
For Barkley, it was a learning experience, one of many encounters where Jordan turned opponents’ bravado into fuel.
In the end, Barkley’s attempt to “break” Michael Jordan only added another chapter to the legend of the man who never needed extra motivation to be great, but always found it when someone gave him a reason.
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