Even several decades after his last NBA game, Michael Jordan’s legacy is still cherished in the basketball world. As the GOAT in the eyes of so many, Jordan’s impact on the history of the sport will never be forgotten.
Jamal recalls the time he first saw MJ
Jamal Crawford was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, the team Michael won six titles and six NBA Finals MVPs with. Anytime players who came after Jordan talk about him, their eyes light up. ‘J-Crossover’ had a similar experience.
“I get drafted by the [Chicago] Bulls and then Tim Grover — the great Tim Grover — calls me and said MJ said you can meet him. So, I’ll never forget, I go down there at 6:30/7 in the morning and it’s just us three in the gym — Grover, myself, MJ,” Jamal said.
“MJ is 40 years old, prepping for a comeback to the Wizards, and he’s working out. I’m quiet, I’m like, this is Michael Jordan, and I’m watching how hard he’s working in the gym by himself doing defensive slides. He’s like, yeah, this summer, I like your game, you can work out with me. I’m like, this is crazy. […] Being around Jordan, I just saw greatness. He would ride to the gym, have an all-yellow Jordan outfit on, and a yellow Lamborghini to match with some yellow Jordan’s that still ain’t never came out,” Crawford added.
The Seattle native isn’t the first one and won’t be the last one to tell a crazy MJ story. Even at 40 years old, Jordan still carried himself like he was in the middle of his NBA prime, winning MVPs and NBA championships. That’s what set Michael apart from any competitor to ever lace up a pair of sneakers.
Jordan’s aura was unlike anyone’s
If you ask everyone who’s been around Michael, they’ll tell you what a surreal experience it was to see him up close and personally. The entire vibe of a setting would change if the UNC product walked in. If MJ spoke, everyone listened. If he was working out alone, everyone wanted to watch.
“I just watched Jordan – Jordan just separate himself from everybody,” Crawford added. “[…] He just separated himself from everybody, and everybody is looking at him like he’s the dude… it was just unbelievable to be around him.”
Take it from one of Jordan’s longest-tenured teammates, Jud Buchler. He had one of the best descriptions of how it was being around Mike.
“MJ, he just had this aura about him. And he was mentally so tough and obviously such a gifted player and athlete that a lot of guys didn’t want any part of him, didn’t really want to step up to that challenge because he embarrassed a lot of guys. There was just this fear factor with him, unlike any other player I’ve ever seen,” Buechler said in a Q&A interview with HoopsHype.
Most current and former players still rank Jordan as the GOAT precisely because of stories just like these.