In 1992, NBA legend Charles Barkley first appeared on TNT as a broadcaster. Although initially not as poised as he is today, Barkley still sparked some debate. During his first assignment, he covered the playoff battle between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks. With the series evenly matched at 2-2, Michael Jordan delivered a stellar performance, scoring 37 points, leading the Bulls to a 96-88 win and shifting the series momentum.
Following the game, Ernie Johnson questioned whether referees were favoring Jordan, especially given the Knicks’ rough play. Barkley, always straightforward, responded with a firm “No.”
“Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen have taken more hits than Michael,” Barkley remarked. “They’re going to look out for Michael since he’s the big draw. Scottie and Horace have been taking a lot of the blows, so Michael has had to carry the load in the recent games. He’ll need to continue to do so because the Knicks aren’t easing up.”
Throughout the 1990s, there was widespread speculation that Jordan received preferential treatment from officials, particularly as he became the league’s poster boy. At that time, Jordan was arguably the most influential figure in sports. He propelled the Bulls to their first championship in 1991 against Magic Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers. The Bulls ultimately defeated the Knicks in seven games, securing the second of their three consecutive titles.
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