Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan were once best friends off the court, despite being fierce rivals on it. Now, the two haven't spoken in a decade.

Barkley said the rift was caused by Jordan being upset over Barkley's criticism of how Jordan has run the Charlotte Hornets.

“It’s a really unfortunate situation for me and him. But I’m going to do my job first and foremost. I can’t criticize other coaches and general managers and give him a pass because he’s my best friend,” Barkley said. “I just can’t do that. What I said was, ‘Michael’s got to surround himself with better people. And I worry about him being successful.’”

Barkley said he and Jordan had a conversation that "wasn't pleasant" after those comments 10 years ago. The two haven't spoken since, despite regularly crossing paths at various NBA events. But Barkley says he'd like to make amends with his former friend.

“I probably would say, ‘Hey, you know, what I said, I believed. I’m sorry you took offense to it, and let’s get past this bull---- and go back to playing golf and having fun.’”

Charlotte Hornets wing Gordon Hayward is out once again due to an injury. This time around, Hayward is suffering from a shoulder injury. The exact nature of that injury has Hayward's wife Robyn upset with the Hornets.

Charlotte has reported Hayward as being out due to a left shoulder contusion. Robyn Hayward took to social media to refute that report, saying her husband is suffering from a more serious injury.

Mrs. Hayward said Gordon has a fractured left scapula. She went on to say Gordon played through the injury last game and that it prevented him from being able to lift his left. Robyn then wrote that Gordon is missing games, it's because he's got more than a bruise.

Robyn then stopped herself but returned back to post again that Gordon has a fracture. She finished by saying, “I’m over them not protecting players. Just was talking with a young player’s mom, and she was saying the same thing…”

Gordon Hayward was diagnosed with a fractured left shoulder and will be reevaluated on a week-to-week basis.

Hayward had missed eight straight games earlier in the month due to what was believed to be a bruised left shoulder, then returned to play in three consecutive games before the diagnosis. 

The 32-year-old Hayward is averaging 16.3 points and 4.3 assists this season. 

The Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons are among the teams interested in signing Miles Bridges pending the league's investigation into his felony domestic violence plea.

Bridges pled no contest to the domestic violence charge stemming from a June incident in November. The NBA is considered likely to suspend Bridges for the incident.

Bridges remains a restricted free agent with the Charlotte Hornets despite his $7.9 million qualifying offer expiring.

Bridges was one of the NBA's most sought after free agents before the domestic violence incident.

X-rays on LaMelo Ball's sprained ankle returned negative on Thursday.

Steve Clifford had no timetable for Ball's return, though the point guard will miss Friday's game against the Cavs.

Ball suffered the injury after stepping on a fan's foot during the Hornets' loss versus the Pacers on Wednesday. It is the same ankle that caused Ball to miss the first 13 games of this season. 

LaMelo Ball reinjured his left ankle after stepping on a fan's foot during the Charlotte Hornets' 125-113 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Ball missed the first 13 games of the season after suffering a Grade 2 sprain on the same ankle. 

The injury took place with one minute and 34 seconds left in the game, with Ball attempting to save the ball from going out of bounds.

Steve Clifford had no immediate update on Ball's condition following the game. 

LaMelo Ball has yet to play this season after getting injured in the preseason. But it looks like Ball's debut for the Charlotte Hornets is on tap, possibly as soon as Saturday night.

Ball will reportedly be upgraded to questionable status for the Hornets game on Saturday at the Miami Heat. But that might be just a technicality, as Ball appears poised to make his return.

Ball suffered a severely sprained ankle in the preseason. That injury has cost ball the Hornets first 13 games of the season. Without Ball, and several other rotation players, Charlotte has stumbled to a 3-10 start to the campaign.

Cody Martin will miss at least the next four weeks following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

Martin has not played since injuring his quad during the Hornets' season opener.

Martin signed a four-year, $31.3 million deal this offseason. 

Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford said he invited Steve Nash to "spend a few days with us and kind of watch and give me his thoughts on things."

"Nobody handles issues better than he does ... we talked on the phone for awhile and five minutes into the conversation, he's asking me about our injuries. And that's just how he is," added Clifford. 

Nash most recently parted ways with the Nets last week. 

The Hornets currently have a 3-7 record and are 13th in the Eastern Conference. 

Miles Bridges has pled no contest to a felony domestic violence charge and will receive three years of probation and no time in jail as part of a deal with prosectors. 

Bridges was accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend in front of their two children in May. In July, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon's office filed three felony charges against Bridges, who initially pleaded not guilty to all three.

The felony charges also included "an allegation of causing great bodily injury on the domestic violence victim," and that allegation was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

During his three-year probation, Bridges, 24, will have to undergo 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling and 52 weeks of parenting classes, serve 100 hours of community service, and undergo weekly narcotics testing with marijuana allowed only if there is a valid doctor's prescription. 

Bridges remains unsigned and is a restricted free agent after the Charlotte Hornets extended a qualifying offer to him.

The NBA can suspend, fine, dismiss or disqualify Bridges because he pled no contest. If Bridges had been acquitted, the NBA would have been unable to penalize him.