‘I’m a 3-Time NBA MVP But Michael Jordan Almost Made Me Retire in My Prime’

Michael Jordan is the most revered name in NBA history for good reason.

Jordan completely dominated basketball for most of his career, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls, and a laundry list of individual awards that includes five MVPs and six Finals MVPs.

Michael Jordan – Career NBA Accolades (1984-2003)

Hall of Fame Class of 2009

14-Time NBA All-Star

10-Time NBA Scoring Champion

3-Time Steals Champion

6-Time NBA Champion

11-Time All-NBA

1984-85 NBA Rookie of the Year

9-Time NBA All-Defense

3-Time NBA All-Star MVP

1987-88 NBA Defensive Player of the Year

5-Time NBA MVP

6-Time NBA Finals MVP

NBA 75th Anniversary Team

The iconic shooting guard, who is widely regarded as the greatest NBA player of all-time, struck fear in his peers with explosive scoring performances and his trademark ultra-competitive nature.

Many NBA legends have spoken about their respect and reverence for His Airness, but one anecdote from legendary Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird stands out as Jordan’s true arrival on the scene as the league’s next superstar.

Larry Bird Once Threatened To Retire After Playing Against Jordan

“God disguised as Michael Jordan”

Larry Bird and the Celtics were at the top of the basketball world in the 1985-86 NBA campaign, cruising to a 67-15 record during the regular season, including an astounding 40-1 record at home.

Larry Legend and his four Hall of Fame teammates — Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish and Bill Walton — had their sights set on Boston’s third NBA title of the decade, having lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy in 1981 and 1984.

But a 23-year-old Jordan and the Bulls stood before them in the first round of the 1986 NBA Playoffs, hoping to make an impression and shock the world by beating the star-studded Celtics.

Jordan grabbed the opportunity with both hands, going off for 49 points in a 123-104 loss in Game 1. The former North Carolina Tar Heel star followed up his remarkable first game with a nuclear Game 2 performance, dropping a NBA Playoff-record 63 points on Bird and the Celtics. Boston still managed to eke out a win in double-overtime, but they finally understood the hype behind the up-and-coming superstar.

“I think that was God disguised as Michael Jordan.” – Larry Bird after Game 2

Bird jokingly threatened to retire if Jordan somehow eclipsed the 63-point effort in Game 3.

“I couldn’t believe anybody could do that against the Boston Celtics,” Bird told reporters after Game 2. “He won’t get 77 points on Tuesday. I’ll retire if he scores 77.”

Boston made significant defensive adjustments and restricted Jordan to just 19 points in Game 3 (Jordan even fouled out of the game with five minutes remaining on the clock), which they won to sweep the best-of-five series and continue their march toward the NBA Finals.

“They were prepared for me,” Jordan said after Game 3. “It seemed like every time I got the ball before I could make a move, they would send someone else at me. They played very good defense.”

Michael would end the series averaging 43.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, while shooting 50.5 percent from the field.

Larry Bird vs Michael Jordan Head-to-Head Stats

Bird got the better of Jordan during their legendary careers

Jordan may have had a better overall career than Bird, winning more titles and more MVP awards, but it was the Celtics legend that came out on top more often when the two formidable opponents went head-to-head.

Most notably, Jordan never beat Bird in the playoffs, losing all six matchups against Boston in the postseason. The Bulls ran into the Celtics in the first round of the 1987 NBA Playoffs as well, and suffered a sweep for the second year in a row.

Larry Bird vs Michael Jordan – Career H2H Stats (34 Games)

Stats
Larry Bird
Michael Jordan

Wins
23
11

Regular Season Wins
17
11

Playoff Wins
6
0

Jordan outscored Bird in their battles, however, averaging 34.6 points to Bird’s 27. He was also more impactful on defense, averaging 2.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game in their head-to-head matchups.

The two Eastern Conference faced one another for the last time in March 1992, with Chicago winning 119-85 on their way to their second consecutive NBA title (and second of six total).

An aging Bird — plagued by serious back problems at that point in his career — managed only 10 points, four rebounds and six assists, while Jordan put up 32-13-3 in a vintage performance.

The pair of basketball icons would actually end up being teammates later that year with Team USA at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, where they claimed a Gold Medal as part of the legendary Dream Team.