Glenn Robinson gave Michael Jordan buckets during his rookie season, but ultimately, it cost him the following season as MJ returned with a vengeance. Robinson stopped by the Knuckleheads podcast to discuss his career, including facing off against the juggernaut Chicago Bulls teams from the 90s, including Jordan and running partner Scottie Pippen.
Luckily for Robinson, he caught Jordan at the right time during their first head-to-head. The Bulls guard was returning from his hiatus from the league, and Robinson took full advantage of the opportunity to put points on His Airness
“We played them the very last regular game of the season. But at the time, I have seen all the superstars, plus, Jordan had number 45, so he looked a little different. I felt like I saw everybody, so I was like I’m finna bust their a*s. I played well, actually I had 36 that game, and Mike had 33. At one point, MJ fouled the sh*t out of me; he fouled me hard and then went to help me up. It was an article in the paper; I’m looking up like thank you, Michael, MJ’s picking me up, I got his attention. There was a big article in the paper. Big Dog, the rookie, he outscored Mike, this and that,” he recalled.
Jordan never forgot
In true MJ fashion, he never forgot Robinson’s performance against the Bulls the previous campaign. Unfortunately for the former Bucks All-Star, he paid for it the next season, as Jordan averaged over 40 points per game against his team.
“Fellas, it was like he read that sh*t. Man, the next season, he averaged about 45,46 against us,” he said.
No one would remotely be surprised if Jordan read that article and tattooed a mental note in his brain for the next time they matched up against one another.
MJ was wired differently, to the point that some would say he had an unhealthy relationship with competing and wanting to be the best.
It worked, however, and Robinson should take solace in knowing that he was one of many to fall prey to a revenge game from the scoring machine.
A hell of a moment
If anything, Robinson’s ability to make moves on Jordan is an achievement in itself and one that players who suited up during the peak of MJ’s powers rarely experienced. Glenn was no scrub and put together a fruitful career as a combo guard who burst onto the scene and won a title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005 to cap off a productive career.
Jordan usually got his revenge on his opponents. Still, as you can see, perhaps he wasn’t as invincible as people think, given that others occasionally got the better of him. I know MJ fans have tried to erase any shortcomings from their memory, but Robinson and other stars did have moments of outshining Jordan during their playing days.
