Michael Jordan wasn’t just one of the greatest scorers we have ever seen in the history of the NBA but also one of the finest defenders. Jordan was a force on the defensive end and a video recently resurfaced on X, which showed him, at 35, blocking Tim Duncan twice and dunking on him in their two meetings in the 1997-98 season.
Michael Jordan age 35 blocking Tim Duncan twice and dunking on Duncan. pic.twitter.com/zzx5RfF0Yc
— SportsStatsFan (@SportsStatsFan) August 19, 2024
Duncan was just a rookie at this time, but he was one of the best the NBA had ever seen. The big man was named an All-Star in his first season and even finished fifth in MVP voting. Jordan showed there, though, that while the future may well belong to Duncan, the present didn’t.
In that 1997-98 campaign, Jordan averaged 28.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game to win MVP. He came fourth in voting for DPOY and made the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the ninth time in his career, an NBA record.
It is quite remarkable how Jordan was able to excel on both ends of the floor at that stage of his career. Not many can keep that up as they get older and it’s one of the many reasons why he is widely regarded as the greatest ever.
As for those two games against Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs that season, Jordan and the Bulls won both of them. The first was an 87-83 double-overtime win in Chicago and the second was a 96-86 win in San Antonio. Jordan averaged 29.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in those two clashes.
Michael Jordan Named Tim Duncan As One Of The Most Talented Players In The NBA After His Rookie Season
Jordan retired for the second time after winning his sixth championship in that 1997-98 season. Not long after that, he held a basketball camp, where he was asked who was the most talented player in the NBA. Jordan named Duncan as one of them and warned the NBA about his potential.
“We got a lot of talented players.” MJ first named Grant Hill, then Kobe Bryant, and even Shaquille O’Neal, but the next one was very unexpected. He said, “You can go with Duncan. Don’t sleep on Tim Duncan. I would think he is probably the most fundamental all-around big man.”
Well, Duncan did eventually get the nickname “The Big Fundamental,” so Jordan was on point there. Also, no one would be sleeping on the big man for much longer.
Duncan led the way as the Spurs won the title in 1999 following Jordan’s retirement and with that, they were on their way to establishing one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history. From 1999–2000 to 2016–17, they won at least 50 games each season, with their star big man being the biggest reason for much of their success.
Duncan would end his career with five titles, three Finals MVPs, and two MVPs. Had it not been for Ray Allen’s iconic clutch shot in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals, he would have been a perfect 6-0 in the Finals like Jordan too. Duncan also made a record 15 All-Defensive teams in his career, but somehow never won DPOY.
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