Charles Barkley says Michael Jordan is surrounded by “yes men”

The Bobcats SUCK. That’s not a secret. But the reasons behind why they’re so “turrible” (terrible) are varied. But, if you ask former NBA All-Star and TNT commentator Charles Barkley, he’ll tell you exactly what the problem is, Michael Jordan and his “yes men”

“I think the biggest problem has been I don’t know if he has hired enough people around him who he will listen to. One thing about being famous is the people around you, you pay all their bills so they very rarely disagree with you because they want you to pick up the check. They want to fly around on your private jet so they never disagree with you. I don’t think Michael has hired enough people around him who will disagree.”

“Professional friends” as I like to call them are usually the athletes friends that were A. childhood friends/former teammates (think King James 4 horsemen buddies) or B. someone the player meets early in his career that become a permanent fixture. These are the guys that go get the car washed, run interference between the various females, sit on the sidelines during practice, drive the car after the club and hold the weed in case of emergency.

All crucial stuff but very few of them make the successful transition into their own. I don’t believe that lack of knowledge is what’s happening in Charlotte. I think Jordan at least attempts to higher competent people i.e. Paul Silas is the coach, Bobcats president Rod Higgins has been in several executive roles with Golden State and Washington. But to Chuck’s point, if Jordan is meddling in areas he has no business in (and as competitive as MJ is, I’d bet he is) how can your friends effectively do their jobs? There’s certainly enough talent on the Bobcats that they should have won more than four games, right?

The Bobcats are on pace to win 8 games in this lockout shortened season should the pattern continue. Their current record is 4-29. It seems as if everyone forgot the disaster that Jordan left the Wizards franchise with last decade when he was a team exec.