Michael Jordan built his legacy on winning. Now, years removed from playing in the NBA, he’s doing it again — this time in NASCAR — and one of his closest former friends is taking notice.
As 23XI Racing continues its surge to open the 2026 season, Charles Barkley offered a rare public reaction to Jordan’s success away from basketball, weighing in on a venture that has quickly evolved from a high-profile experiment into a legitimate contender in the Cup Series.
Speaking on TNT, Barkley reflected on the importance of athletes finding purpose after their playing careers, pointing to both his own journey and Jordan’s latest chapter as examples of how that transition can work at the highest level.
“Basketball is just a small part of your life,” Barkley said. “No matter how great you are, you’re gonna be done as a young person. You have to find something else to bring you joy and happiness and things like that. Hey, I love doing television. I’ve been blessed to do this for a long time, but basketball, I’ve been retired longer than I played.”
For Jordan, that next chapter has increasingly become 23XI Racing — the team he co-founded with Denny Hamlin in 2020. What began as a bold move into a new sport has steadily grown into one of the most competitive organizations in the garage.
And Barkley made it clear he’s been watching closely.
“I’m happy about his success in NASCAR,” Barkley added. “I know he loves fishing, like he said, but I’m proud of his success in NASCAR. He’s always been great for me. He taught me how to make money and things like that. And so I’m proud of his success.”
Barkley and Jordan’s Relationship Adds Context to the Moment
Barkley’s comments carry added significance given his history with Jordan.
The two were once among the closest relationships in the NBA, forming a strong bond during their playing days and maintaining that friendship into their post-retirement careers. But that relationship shifted more than a decade ago following Barkley’s public criticism of Jordan’s tenure as an NBA owner.
GettyCharles Barkley and Michael Jordan share a moment during a 1996 NBA game, when the two were among the closest relationships in the league.
At the time, Barkley questioned Jordan’s leadership of the Charlotte franchise — comments that Jordan did not take lightly. The fallout created distance between the two, and Barkley later acknowledged that they had not spoken in years.
That context makes Barkley’s latest remarks stand out.
While their relationship may not be what it once was, the respect remains — especially as Jordan continues to find success in a completely different arena.
23XI Racing Is No Longer a Side Project
Jordan’s NASCAR venture is no longer viewed as a celebrity experiment. It’s a competitive operation with real expectations.
Tyler Reddick delivered the organization its first major breakthrough in 2024, winning the regular season championship and advancing to the Championship 4. While he ultimately fell short of the title, the season marked a turning point in how 23XI Racing was viewed across the sport.
Now, in 2026, the team has taken another step forward.
Reddick opened the season with one of the most dominant starts in recent memory, becoming the first driver in series history to win the first three races of the year. He followed that with a fourth win within the opening six races, placing himself in rare company and immediately establishing 23XI as a weekly contender.
The momentum is undeniable. What once looked like long-term potential has turned into immediate results.
After one of those early wins — the Daytona 500 — Jordan said it felt like he had just won a championship. The reaction underscored just how much this venture means to him.
A Familiar Competitive Edge, Just in a New Arena
For Jordan, stepping away from basketball never meant stepping away from competition. It simply meant finding a new outlet.
For years, that outlet was golf. Now, it’s NASCAR.
His investment in 23XI Racing reflects the same traits that defined his playing career — attention to detail, relentless standards, and an expectation to win. Those qualities are now translating to success in a completely different sport.
And as Barkley pointed out, that kind of drive doesn’t fade.
It evolves.
While their relationship may never return to what it once was, Barkley’s comments offer a rare moment of acknowledgment — one that highlights both Jordan’s continued success and the lasting respect between two of the most competitive figures in sports.
Jordan is still doing what he has always done best.
He’s winning.
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