Jordan’s Bulls had already gone back-to-back as Chicago began constructing a dynasty.

After joining the high-scoring Suns via a blockbuster trade in the summer of 1992, The Round Mound of Rebound guided Phoenix to the best record in the NBA (62-20) and was rewarded for his hardwood dominance.

“The MVP always goes to the guy who had the best regular season,” Barkley said. “I had the best regular season. We had the best record in the NBA.

“Obviously, Michael was a better player than me. But that year, during the regular season, I played better than he did.”Barkley’s words are true.

The only problem was that Jordan was Jordan, and MJ soon made his close friend pay the ultimate price.

“I didn’t get the MVP that year,” Jordan said. “They gave it to Charles Barkley.

“With that said, ‘OK, fine. You can have that. I’m gonna get this.’ ”

What followed was legendary NBA Finals dominance by a 10-time scoring champion widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all-time.

Jordan averaged a surreal 41 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the 1993 Finals.

Barkley was also impressive, averaging 27.3 points, 13 rebonds and 5.5 assists.

In Game 2, he battled Jordan blow for blow, pouring in 42 points in 46 minutes.

But Chicago grabbed Game 1 on the road and returned to the United Center with a huge 2-0 lead.

With a historic three-peat in sight and a perceived MVP slight in mind, Barkley couldn’t prevent Jordan from proving everyone wrong again.

“I should have been more aggressive,” Barkley said. “I should have played better in Game 1.”

Sir Charles also believes that he was playing the best version of the Bulls.

To Barkley, the 1991-93 Chicago squads were better than the three-peat teams from 1996-98.

“I thought the team with Horace Grant was better than the team that won a three-peat later,” Barkley said.

“Michael, obviously he’s the greatest ever — we all agree on that. But I thought Horace Grant was a better player than Dennis Rodman, all around.”

Barkley deserved the NBA MVP in 1993.

But Jordan wanted regular-season revenge and he got it against Barkley in the Finals, leaving one of the NBA’s best modern players two wins short of a career-defining championship ring.

Years later, Barkley became a highly popular NBA analyst, while Jordan annually failed as an NBA owner but became the first athlete to crack the Forbes 400 with a net worth of $3 billion.

Their friendship fell apart, though, even when Jordan got the three-peat ring he wanted.

“That would be on his end,” Barkley said. “He was my best friend at the time. I love the guy and I miss the guy. But I got to do my job.

“We haven’t spoken … and that was close to 10 years ago.”

In 2024, the Finals are set.