Over the years, we have seen some of the most thrilling and swashbuckling action in NBA All-Star games. Unforgettable moments of talent and hard work clashing in those three days are what makes the game more interesting. Close on the heels of the 73rd NBA All-Star game Michael Jordan‘s favorite pickup games partner revealed some of his favorite NBA All-Star game moments. The NBA legend once even had the opportunity to play Jordan’s body double in a commercial shoot.
In a recent episode of NBA on TNT, former Chicago Bulls star Jamal Crawford mentioned his favorite moment involving Jordan. During the conversation with Stephon Marbury, Crawford shared how one of them was in 1998 which featured the Chicago Bulls champion Jordan and Kobe Bryant and the next was in 2001 when Marbury teamed up with Allen Iverson. “My two favorite All-Star games ever is ’98 when Kobe and Jordan matched up and 01 the east, you and AI (Allen Iverson) just go crazy and it’s like the most memorable All-Star Game comeback.”
Crawford’s selection of the 1998 game is not surprising given how special the game was. This was Jordan’s final All-Star appearance with the Bulls, while the Lakers legend’s first. The 19-year-old was the youngest player ever in the NBA All-Star game history, where he battled with Jordan. While Bryant as the youngest starter showcased his greatness, the 6x champion almost missed the game for flu and still managed to dominate. It’s understandable why Crawford still feels fortunate to have played Jordan’s body double.
Jamal Crawford felt “honored” to play the younger version of Michael Jordan
Just recently, an old clip resurfaced online. It was an old commercial for Gatorade that started to pique fans’ attention. The renowned $4.9 billion worth brand is well known to have a partnership with the Chicago Bulls legend. Shot way back in 2003, the clip featured two versions of Jordan hooping against each other to show how Jordan’s biggest competitor was himself and he continued to strive for better. The younger version of Jordan was played by none other than Crawford. The guy in the Instagram reel stated, “The guy portraying a young Michael Jordan in this commercial was Jamal Crawford who just so happened to be playing with the Chicago Bulls when they shot it in 2003.”
Resharing the clip on his Instagram Stories, he wrote, “What an honor with the goat!” While the Bulls legend remembers the opportunity as one of his fondest memories, it was nostalgic for the fans too. Which is your favorite NBA All-Star game moment? Do tell us in the comments section below.