NBA Legends & Players Reveal the Most SAVAGE Michael Jordan Stories

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Michael Jordan was not just a basketball player—he was a phenomenon, an unstoppable force whose intensity and competitive fire burned brighter than anyone else’s on the court. Legends who played alongside or against him often shared tales that seemed unbelievable, almost mythical, painting a vivid picture of Jordan’s relentless desire to win.

Reggie Miller, an iconic NBA player himself, vividly recalled competing against Jordan. “Michael and I were not friends on the court,” Miller reflected. “He was possibly the only player I didn’t dare trash talk, because if you challenged him, he’d embarrass you. He thrived on it.”

One memorable game, Miller’s Pacers were comfortably ahead of Jordan’s Bulls, and Miller, feeling confident, told Jordan to sit out because the game was essentially over. Jordan took this personally. Within moments, Jordan transformed the game into a battle for pride, turning a comfortable Pacers lead into a narrow escape.

Charles Barkley, another legend, recounted Jordan’s extreme competitiveness even away from basketball. “Michael is the most competitive person I’ve ever known,” Barkley shared. One day, before a game, they played 36 holes of golf. Despite the exhausting rounds, Jordan insisted on guarding the opposing team’s point guard just because he had been slighted in the media, playing with the ferocity of someone in a championship battle.

Jeremy Roenick, a former NHL star and friend of Jordan, recalled an equally surreal experience. After playing two exhausting rounds of golf, during which Jordan lost a significant sum to Roenick, Jordan confidently bet Roenick he’d not only win his basketball game later that evening but would also score over 40 points. Unbelievably, Jordan delivered, scoring 52 points and leading his team to victory by a wide margin.

Derek Martin also learned the hard way never to provoke Michael Jordan. After scoring against Jordan in a friendly pickup game, Martin taunted him relentlessly. Jordan, seemingly amused, took note. Months later, during a regular-season NBA game, Martin’s team was comfortably ahead with only minutes remaining. Martin confidently reminded Jordan of their past encounter. Jordan responded by scoring 24 points in ten minutes, utterly dismantling Martin’s lead and teaching him a lasting lesson about provoking greatness.

Even young NBA stars who played summer basketball with Jordan experienced his legendary competitiveness firsthand. Jamal Crawford recalled that when Jordan lost a casual summer game, he reacted as though it was a devastating playoff defeat, returning with unmatched intensity to dominate subsequent games. Jordan’s workouts became the stuff of legend, drawing celebrities like Jay-Z and Beyoncé to witness his fierce competitive spirit even in practice games.

JR Rider also faced Jordan’s competitive wrath firsthand after mistakenly awakening the basketball giant with a few provocative comments. What had started as a comfortable lead against Jordan’s Bulls quickly turned into a humiliating defeat, as Jordan unleashed an unstoppable scoring spree. Rider and his teammates, humbled and speechless, learned an unforgettable lesson.

Magic Johnson shared perhaps the most iconic Michael Jordan moment, recalling their time on the legendary Dream Team. During a practice session, Magic’s team confidently took an early lead. Playfully trying to rile Jordan, Magic tapped him on the shoulder and jokingly said, “Hey, Air Jordan, if you don’t step up, we’re gonna blow you out today.” Jordan’s eyes ignited, and what followed was sheer basketball artistry. Jordan hit consecutive three-pointers, each followed by an intense stare-down aimed at Magic. Then, in a move that defied gravity itself, Jordan took flight, performing an astonishing 360-degree dunk over David Robinson, leaving the entire Dream Team stunned.

These stories shared by NBA legends reveal the essence of Michael Jordan—the man whose extraordinary skills were matched only by his unwavering resolve. His fierce competitiveness wasn’t limited to basketball; it was the very fabric of his being, driving him to greatness and making him an inspiration. These legendary accounts of Jordan’s unmatched tenacity illustrate why he remains the ultimate standard of basketball excellence.

Top 10 sporting GOATs ranked with Michael Jordan only second on star-studded list

The likes of Lionel Messi and Tom Brady missed out on a spot in the top 10.

The top 10 sporting GOATs were ranked with Michael Jordan only second on the star-studded list, with a shock name coming out on top.

That’s according to Piers Morgan, who named his top 10 sporting GOATs for the Daily Mail in 2021 as he left out the likes of Lionel Messi and Tom Brady.

Messi’s on-field rival Cristiano Ronaldo, however, was among the top 10, with the 40-year-old enjoying spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

But Morgan has ranked four sporting GOATs ahead of Ronaldo, who has won five Ballon d’Or titles in his legendary career.

Ronaldo is behind Olympics and track icon Usain Bolt, who won an impressive eight Olympic gold medals during his career. He is still the world-record holder of the 100m, setting a blistering time of 9.58 seconds in 2009.

Morgan claims the Jamaican ‘managed to combine tremendous physique, speed and power with a wonderfully charismatic personality’ en route to destroying his opponents.

The late, great Muhammad Ali is ranked third, having captured the world heavyweight title on three different occasions.

“The fabulously flamboyant way he talked the talk, and his stunning influence on the global stage, that that made Ali special.” Morgan stated.

Michael Jordan is ranked second following his career in the NBA, where he won six championships with the Chicago Bulls.

Muhammad Ali stands over Sonny Liston. Image: Getty

Morgan called Jordan ‘the second greatest sportsman in history’ and described him as a ‘verifiable lunatic’.

Cricketer Sir Don Bradman ranks as No.1, according to Morgan.

The Australian, nicknamed ‘The Don’, is widely recognised as the greatest batsman in cricket history.

His Test batting average of 99.94 is considered by many critics to be the greatest achievement by any sportsman in any major sport.

“He was a 5ft 7in machine who wielded such dominance that if he had scored just four runs in his final innings, his international average would have been 100, which in cricket terms is perfection,” explained Morgan.

“Instead, he was out for zero, proving that nobody’s perfect. But Bradman came the closest to achieving perfection of any sportsman in history. And that’s why, for me, he’s the sporting G.O.A.T.”

Piers Morgan’s top 10 sporting GOATs:

10 – Ayrton Senna (racing driver)

9 – Wayne Gretzky (ice hockey)

8 – Michael Phelps (swimmer)

7 – Roger Federer (tennis)

6 – Tiger Woods (golf)

5 – Cristiano Ronaldo (football)

4 – Usain Bolt (sprinter)

3 – Muhammad Ali (boxing)

2 – Michael Jordan (basketball)

1 – Sir Don Bradman (cricket)