Charles Barkley about facing MJ in 1993 NBA Finals: "I don't know if I can beat this guy"
The 1993 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1992–93 NBA season, featuring the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, and the Phoenix Suns, winners of 62 games and led by regular season MVP Charles Barkley.
The Bulls became the first team since the legendary Boston Celtics of the 1960s to win three consecutive championship titles, clinching the "three-peat" with John Paxson's game-winning 3-pointer that gave them a 99–98 victory in Game 6.
Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominant power forwards. He earned eleven NBA All-Star Game appearances and was named the All-Star MVP in 1991. In 1993, he was voted the league's Most Valuable Player and during the NBA's 50th anniversary, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games and won two gold medals as a member of the United States' "Dream Team". In 2000, he retired as the fourth player in NBA history to achieve 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists.
In one of the episodes of Open Court Charles talked about making to NBA Finals and playing against Michael Jordan. He said he couldn't sleep, he cried after the series, he was depressed.
Recommended Articles
“I told the guys we are going to the Finales and they were looking at me like I am crazy. I said I am the best player in this conference, we ‘re going to play the Bulls for the championship, we are going to the finales.”
When they got there, he was happy he could face MJ.
“I got Michael Jordan mano a mano, which is what I want.” I was telling myself I am the best player I just didn’t have any help in Philadelphia.”
He promised his daughter they are going to win, but after losing two games in a row.
“I remember I said to my daughter – I think this guy may be better than me. I never said that about another basketball player in my life. “
Also, “I remember being so depressed and I said, "I don't know if I can beat this guy".
Barkley still thinks about that series when he could have won a ring: “I don’t think I ever got it over it”, said Charles Barkley.
