"That guy sent me a message tonight, and I didn't like the message" - When Michael Jordan dominated Charles Barkley and the Suns in their first clash of the season
It's a tale as old as time: Michael Jordan wanting to prove himself as the best ever to step onto a basketball court. Proving his superiority, playing mind games, and trash-talking were his specialties, and everyone who had the fortune (or misfortune) to stand in his way experienced it firsthand. And when he played against his top opponents, His Airness went above and beyond his regular self to prove there was no match for him.
One such showdown was witnessed by Charles Barkley in his first campaign after coming from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Phoenix Suns, hoping to face Jordan and the Bulls only in the Finals. That was indeed the case, but in the eighth game of the regular season, the Bulls visited The Valley, and Mike decided to lay the groundwork for the potential final clash between the two teams, which seemed highly likely. Oh, and laid the groundwork he did.
“It was a turning point in the season, and I know Michael well… We got off to a good start, and we played the Bulls, and he just kicked our asses. And I’m saying to myself, ‘He know we gonna play them in the Finals, he wants to send us a message,’” Barkley narrated in a sitdown interview on the Club Shay Shay. “So after the game, I said, ‘Guys, we got to get better. That guy sent me a message tonight, and I didn’t like the message. But I received it.’”
Jordan sent a message to the Suns
As mentioned, Phoenix was playing their eighth game of the 1992-93 campaign, holding a solid 5-2 record up to that point. However, when Chicago, led by His Airness, came to town, it was anything but an ordinary, boring regular-season game.
The Bulls demolished the Suns 128-111, and Mike sent a resolute message to a team he would face in the Finals later that year. He finished the game with 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting from the field, grabbed three rebounds, dished out seven assists, and was active on the defensive end with three steals and four blocked shots. Sir Charles and his crew could only watch as the GOAT went to work. The message was received, and Barkley was pissed, urging his team to step up.
It was all MJ in the Finals
Fast-forward to the postseason, Barkley won his first and only regular-season MVP award, leading his new team to a 62-20 record. However, one can imagine how that accolade only added fuel to Jordan's competitive fire. As the two teams met in the finals, this was Chuck's best chance to crown his MVP campaign with the long-awaited and ultimately elusive NBA championship ring, but it was all about Michael…
In six hard-fought games, the Bulls legend showcased the full extent of his offensive arsenal, averaging an astonishing 41.0 points per game, including a phenomenal 55-point outing in a crucial Game 4. Jordan built on the momentum he started against the Suns during the regular season, ultimately notching the first of two three-peats for the city of Chicago.
