‘Too much pride’ – Reggie Miller couldn’t wait to troll Michael Jordan by wearing his own sneakers during NBA playoff showdown

His Airness took everything personally.

Rarely was Michael Jordan ever rattled on the court.

CHICAGO - MAY 17: Reggie Miller #31 of the Indiana Pacers defends Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during a game played on May 17, 1998 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jordan and Reggie Miller battled throughout the late 1980s and all throughout the 90sCredit: Getty
His skin and mentality were impenetrable.

Yet he would make it his mission to find something that would purposely upset him and make it personal.

Even if he had to conjure it out of thin air.

Luckily for him, when he played against Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1998, all he had to do was look down at Miller’s feet to find the personal grudge against him.

Back in the peak Jordan days, no one was allowed to wear Jordans, except the man himself.

However, Miller took it upon himself to make a statement, and try to mess with Jordan’s psyche in the ECF.

Miller went on Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson’s All the Smoke show and told the story about the time he wore Jordans just to mess with the Chicago Bulls star.

“First of all, you could not wear Jordans when Mike was at his superpowers and when he was with the Bulls and all that,” Miller said.

“Only Mike wore Jordans, I believe. I don’t think Jordan Brand started to take off, maybe when he went to Washington and he was starting to phase his way out and to keep the Jordan Brand going.

“I knew it would be an irk for him. He wasn’t going to call me and tell me he wanted me to be on Jordan Brand. There was no way, he would never do that.

Miller, like most, was largely unsuccessful when facing Jordan

Miller, like most, was largely unsuccessful when facing JordanCredit: Getty

Miller was a star in the 90s that was often overlooked because of Jordan and his Bulls

Miller was a star in the 90s that was often overlooked because of Jordan and his BullsCredit: YOUTUBE/@ALLTHESMOKEPRODUCTIONS
“Too much pride,” Barnes chimed in.

“So during a couple of times, maybe one game or two, when he was with the Bulls, I wore them in the game just to irk him,” Miller continued.

“Because I just wanted to f*** with him a little bit.

“I heard it later on from, you know, ‘Hey, you cannot be wearing Air Jordans at all. Even if you’re playing them or not playing them, you can’t be.’

“I was like, ‘Okay.’

“I just wanted to do it for that game. I’m not going to be wearing them all the time.

“But then the people called and were like, ‘Hey, do you want to be part of brand Jordan?’

“I’m like, ‘S***. All right. I’ll do it.”

And the rest was history for Miller.

The Hall of Famer switched from Nike to Jordan Brand and finished out his career in Air Jordans.

The Pacers legend can sit back, kick his Jordans up on his desk, as he watches his former team do battle against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of this year’s postseason.

The Pacers stole Game 1 in Cleveland, with a massive title on deck for Tuesday evening.