10 NBA Legends Share The First Time They Faced Michael Jordan

my

first

memory is their new commercial, I mean, when this, when, when everything just stops, I mean, that's when I saw the commercial for the

first

time

. I just went back like 10 years ago watching him play when he was like a rookie or something in 15 seconds. I could see everything going very fast. Do you remember the first

time

you saw Michael Jordan play? Even if you weren't old enough to see him play on live television, there was always a special feeling when he was on. on your screen you knew this guy was doing something on the court that hadn't been seen before since the beginning of his career.

Jordan had a way of drawing people to him, fans and players were in awe of his skills on the court and his ability to score from anywhere, his defensive pressure and his famous gravity-defying dunks, many fans

share

his first time seeing Jordan and I want to make a video of just 10 NBA

legends

sharing their first time in front of Michael Jordan and how

they

felt when

they

were on the same court as him, so we'll start with number 10 Isaiah Thomas Michael Jordan e Isaiah

share

d an intense and highly competitive rivalry, especially in the 1980s and early 1990s, when the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls

faced

off in several heated playoff series.

Although they have some tension, they respect each other in the game and you'll see this here when Isaiah Thomas shares a story about when he met Jordan for the first time and he looked at Jordan like when he walked in, he was like, damn, he's really good, you, you. You're okay, I remember when we first played against him, um, it was the Olympic, um, oh, yeah, the Olympic in '84 in Phoenix and they were doing the uh, the professionals were coming to play against the Olympic team, and I remember that the Coach Knight said, Coach Knight. he was training for me, he said this one is a little different now, man, this one is a little different now, so you know in Phoenix it was hot in the summer and you know he watches the guys doing dunks and everything, but he had a different kind of balance. you know, jumping and diving and I was like, "okay, okay, okay, that's a nice thing, that's a nice thing and then the game started and this guy was so fast and so fast he was like oh ho, wait a minute, it's a program for minors. a PG-13 program coach, but some profanity is necessary description Clyde Drexler is a legend who was often compared to Michael Jordan in his playing days due to his high-flying dunks and the smooth playing style of his .

Drexler has talked about the importance of competing against Jordan and notes how those matchups push him to improve his game. You'll hear his experience every time he faces Michael Jordan. How did you know Jordan you played against him? I didn't know him. I played against him in the semi-final of '82. It's okay, North. Carolina against Houston, so that was when he was a freshman, a freshman year, the year they won, okay, so I knew he was a pretty good player and then, you know, if I had stayed in the college, I would have been a senior. the '84 Olympic team Bobby Knight sent me a letter saying I want you and Jordan to lead my Olympic team in '84 okay but I ended up going to the NBA and we knew Jordan was a great player there was no doubt and Michael Thompson . and I was saying you have to pick this guy no matter the positions or who you have, you need good players, yeah I know he's coming to me and guess what he knows.

I go to him. I'm going to play my game. If you get in my way I'm going to rip off your nose, yeah, the same way with him, let's compete. Jason Kid, one of the best point guards in NBA history, was known for impacting the game in many ways and, in fact, had 25 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists and six steals against Michael Jordan and the Bulls kid. He considered Jordan to be the epitome of basketball greatness. Oh, that was the first day. Do you remember that game? Yeah, it was that one in Dallas, that was Dallas' ninth game.

That season yes, it was that the game in which he took it easy, he did, he only had 36 points and they won by six in overtime, but you didn't take it easy, remember what you did? I committed 25 fouls . 15 11 and six steals oh wow uh none of those steals went against him when he was guarding it uh they must have been playing in an inferior basket for me to score that many points. I remember it because I had gone to dinner that night. before with Michael and uh and I just hoped that when I left dinner it wouldn't bother him um I think he took the check which might have bothered him since he was a rookie um but it was just, you know, playing against the best you know, um, and I was lucky if those were my stats, um, but we lost, so you know, it's about winning and that's what it does best.

Tracy McGrady is one of my favorite players of all time and he has one of the best. stories from when he first

faced

Michael Jordan, you would hear him say that special glow that Jordan had when he faced him what was it like playing against MJ your rookie year shaking in my boots the first time shaking shaking the first time I had my guard ? I'm like me, this man, first of all, let me go back to 1997, MJ, them in the playoffs. I think they played the Hawks. I'm in the playoff game, bro. I had the opportunity to go back for him. locker room after the game, so I'm standing back there.

I'm 17. I've never been around NBA players like this, or even you know, I've never been around someone like MJ, so I'm standing back there. kid and P comes out beep all these players start coming out Mike coming around that corner bro I'm not gonna lie to you the man had a glow bro I swear Mike Mike do that it's real I think it's real hey hey K hey kg said the same thing you just feel his energy he don't say you feel that energy I'm not kidding bro tell Mike came out I was like damn bro I don't know what to say man I was like that's MJ's dog, that's MJ, fast forward so fast I'm on the court with him in my rookie year.

It took me about a quarter to get over the fact that this might be okay, but man, once it works, you know Mystique disappears if you're around someone for too long, the effect wears off, okay, let's do it. I almost had my best game as a rookie playing against. I almost had a triple double in front of 30,000. You know, we played in the Sky Dome. 30. 30,000. Mike had it. Getting there bro that was a year they were 72 and 10 we were one of them 10 yeah in Toronto hell yeah you and Mike had good games in that game hey Mike was about 35, I was probably around 12.

I'm easy, I'm like man, this micro brother Paul Pierce, one of the most skilled fors in NBA history and was known for being a clutch player, shared his experience against the Wizards Jordan and got a taste of what Jordan could do when he wanted. winning once the cigar comes out is like you were already lighting the Victory Cigar before the competition. I had the opportunity to play against Michael Jordan, but it was when he had the Wizard uniform, so he wasn't quite Prime Michael Jordan, he was 40 years old. Jordan, I remember he was still a phenomenal athlete, he still had great footwork and he actually gave me about 30 points.

It's like my third year in the league and I was probably still one of the top 10 athletes in the game at the time, yeah. He talks a little trash, you know, I remember him hitting the fade telling me you can't get to that here defending, he hit 29 because you know it was real, he really had a rivy with Antoine Walker, since Anine Walker was in Chicago and you know these guys played against each other and picked up games in the summer and you know he and Antoine Walker really got into quite a fight and Twan, you know he's one of the best trash talkers that ever played, but I think that game I wish I hadn't said anything Alan Iverson aka the answer always showed respect towards Jordan and was even his idol growing up Iverson sh a funny and wholesome story of meeting Jordan at his Hall of Fame speech I mean I was excited you know CU I'm thinking you know we have the opportunity to play against the champions of the world and you know the day will come when I will walk on the court with in my eyes the greatest basketball player to ever step on a basketball court and, um It was just an exciting moment for me and It was something that I treasure for the rest of my life and you know you want to be fast like Isaiah and you want to shoot like a bird, you know how to bounce like Barkley, you know how to pass like magic, you want to be dominant like Shaq, but man, I wanted to be like Mike, and you know what I mean.

I remember the first time I played against him and I walked out on the court and looked at him and for the first time in my life a human being did it. It doesn't seem real to me, you know what I mean, I don't know if everyone watched Chappelle's show, but he talks about a certain incident where he saw someone, he saw Rick James, and I literally saw his aura, like he would do it. He looked like he was glowing. Shaq's story about him meeting Michael Jordan for the first time is pretty surprising because, coming from one of the most intimidating players in NBA history, he said he was terrified playing against him, especially when he scored 64 points. his Orlando Magic team, you're going to hear Shaq explain that terrifying experience of facing him, since the limitations of the statue were lifted, I was terrified, you really were, yes, SC MJ, yes, you said how long, for how long, just when you took the floor or not, the whole game because one is the best player, two, I was worried that he would dunk me and I have to come back and, you know, face the guys, and then three, I was so good, I I was like, man, this guy likes the things that I do.

I saw it when I was in college on TV, it's really real, it was terrible, I mean, but you know, when I got the ball and I saw those bums they had playing with me, you know I was going to go to work, Buss, bro from the NBA, what I said, but anyway like just seeing him out there I got scared quickly I turned around and he hit I remember Micha is killing us but we're close and when you see the light at the end of the tunnel you go for him damn it , I'm about to beat Michael Jordan, what was that locker room like when you get an overtime win like that, coming from behind on the road, everyone was happy, especially Nick, because he was from Chicago?

He was great and again a great confidence booster. Michael Jordan left and finished. up with 64 Four Points what is the team talking about what do you remember about that before the game? I was terrified but to relieve the pressure of that I don't have to defend so I'm not going to work. The second thing I said was that I can't. let him dunk on me, that's not going to happen, so it was a play when the baseline comes Jordan turns and faces the shot clock at seven six and Shaquille I really had to touch it up CU one.

They won't leave me hanging because I will. Never experience that from family members, barbershop friends, that will be a sign forever because Mike was the man at the time, but Mike also taught me something very valuable, so when I went to help him, he told me that never help anyone. Big miss, don't do that, I don't need your help, but I'll be back, don't worry. Mike is a guy who taught me how to get to the next level, we beat them and Le com final go. Until the final, Keny sweeps us and they sweep us off the field the following year.

Mike grabs me and says before you succeed, you must first learn to fail and that helped me when I moved to Los Angeles and I kept failing Charles. Barkley, one of the best power forwards in the game, shared a funny story about when he was a sophomore in college and saw a young Michael Jordan who completely blew him away when he was on the court, it was amazing that he accepted which was the second. The best player in the country already and Jordan was a level above him the first time I met Michael Jordan. I thought I had never seen anything like it before.

Mhm, I mean, it was amazing. You know, he was at the Olympic trials and he probably should. I've made the night team he just didn't like me he didn't like me because he's an idiot um, but you know, we invited about 120 players to try out for the Olympic team and they were 100 120 180 60 40 uh 20 16 12 like that that I made it to the last 20 and driving to the airport was my car Malone John Stockton and Terry Porter and I went back to my university and John Thompson rests in peace, one of the greatest men I have ever met in my life.

Life rest in peace, he is done, he called my coach and told me sunny. I just want you to know that Charles was the second best player here, he probably should have made the Olympic team, but Bobby just didn't like him, he didn't have it. a reason he just didn't like him or my coach John. I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me that, blah, blah, blah, then he hangs up the phone and says Charles. I thought you were the best player in the country. I told him, "No, I said coach, let me tell you something.

There's a black guy from North Carolina. I've never seen anything like it and right now we're like South Moes in C. Wow, I said coach, coach, let me tell you something. I never I've seen nothing like this guy in my life, he's a little taller than me, uh, he's very lanky, he's very black, but he can run fasterfast everyone, GNA jumps everyone and I've never seen anything like it in my life, he says, what's your? name, I said Michael Jordan, I said we get along really well for some reason, we like each other, I think because we're both small town guys, huh, but I was killing these guys, he was killing these guys, but yeah, coach, he wasn't the best player there.

That black from North Carolina is the best I've ever seen and as I say at this point he's just an idiot in college at that time number two Steve Nash, a point guard that every team dreams of having, was twice MVP and He was in the 50 40 990 Club four times, which is crazy. He was one of the many players who idolized Jordan. Listen to this funny story about when he faced off against Michael Jordan his rookie year. The first month of my rookie season we played the Bulls twice. Home and Away first time was at the United Center in Chicago and I was in the B after the game and Chucky Brown gets on the bus with Jordan's shoes and I'm like, are those MJ shoes?

He says, yeah, and I ask, how did you get those? he's like I asked him about him and I was thinking to myself, you can do that and two weeks later, they came to Phoenix and we played and there I posted a photo on Instagram, you know, the day of the first episode of the last dance and I just said, you know he was my hero and there's a picture of me as a rookie and Jordan and we're laughing, uh, and what happened was I got on with him, you know, he supported me until the end. then his little, you know, he shook and hit me, we go down the other end, someone gets fouled shooting a free throw, so I'm standing there as the point guard behind the shooter and he walks up to me and says.

You were at a slight disadvantage and as a rookie you know it was like that moment where he was like a saint, like he was talking. MJ just signed me up, he's letting me have it in a fun way, this is awesome and all. It occurred to me that Chucky Brown got his shoes, so he tells me you're at a slight disadvantage and I turn, I go, I laugh and then I go, can I have your shoes after the game and of course, here enough after the game, did I get your shoes? and all that, and I remember it just takes you back because, as a guy who, I hope, proved to be a fierce competitor my entire career, it takes you back to the kind of mentality that I had when I was a rookie with Michael Jordan and how that Everything was secondary to this hero.

Adoration in a way and I remember my vet Rex Chapman, who was actually a very close friend of mine and, you know, he's still a good friend, he was so angry with me that they asked me for his shoes and they gave me them. his shoes and now the latest legend we have is Kobe Bean Bryant, he is the only player that you can safely say emulated Jordan's game and made it his style, we don't have to talk about how much respect they have for each other since this was his. His mentor Jordan taught him everything he needed to know and he did it, so here's the story of the first time Kobe faced Jordan and he was taught how to dunk from the baseline the first time I faced him , That was the best.

I know it was all of them. The challenge of going out and playing against Bulls guard Michael Jordan, nothing can beat the fact that they already made a change, put Kobe over Michael and then the education accelerated the learning. Wow, it was because he had seen that spinning motion so many times and then. I knew I was going to do it, but time on TV and then in person are two completely different things, so it just turned around right before I thought I was going to spend it and I thought, damn, that was cool when I got to the league. and compare myself to him.

What I found is that I found that he was extremely open to being in a relationship and giving me a ton of advice and an incredible amount of detail. Strategies. Training regimens and things like. that, um, I'm serious, I mean, I don't think people really understand how much of an impact he's had on me as a player and uh and as a leader, so the level of fear that he inspired in others was crazy. and I would tell him. I told him that when I face him we will go. He says oh, you don't want to do that.

I'm like what man, you don't know me, so when we got together, I think he got it. and you know, when he was 18 my freshman year and he got the best of me a lot of times. I was there on the next play. You're not intimidating me, you're not going anywhere and I think he saw that level of respect because I think he. It was the same at 18 and that common bond is what I believe. You know where our connection was built, so I hope you enjoyed the video and let me know what the first Michael Jordan game you saw was and if you have a favorite. clip here so make sure you like, share, subscribe and see you next time.