Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson only competed against each other for a short time in the NBA. Iverson had just finished his rookie season by the time MJ won his fifth championship with the Bulls.
Nevertheless, they hold a tight relationship today.
Back during a chat with Shannon Sharpe on ‘Club Shay Shay,’ the Sixers legend spoke about the time he went up to chat with Jordan during a Hornets game just a few years back.
The conversation went something like this:
“So I went to a Charlotte Hornets game and [Michael Jordan] had me come in and went to the back and me and him just sitting back and drinking and reminiscing or whatever and I was like ‘Man, I love you man,” Iverson said. “And he was like ‘You don’t love me you little b*tch. You wouldn’t have crossed me up like that.’ And everybody in the room just burst out laughing. It was crazy.”
https://twitter.com/shannonsharpeee/status/1429941880612024329
Jordan is, obviously, a highly competitive person and it was rare to see him on the wrong end of a highlight. So, it’s no surprise he still feels a little salty about Iverson showing him up.
The specific moment happened in March of 1997, during a game in Philadelphia. It is widely remembered by fans today as one of the greatest rookie moments ever.
“That’s when I was a puppy, and I was playing against the greatest to ever play the game,” said A.I. “I was gonna start out with that one because I was gonna introduce myself to the world and let them know that — obviously, No. 23 was on the court, but after that game he was gonna know who No. 3 was. So, that’s when I was a puppy before I turned into a Great Dane.”
Iverson wanted to put the world, and MJ, on notice that day. It’s fair to say he was successful. So much so, that even Michael Jordan himself admitted that taking him on in a one-on-one matchup would be challenging.
Although he never went on to win a Championship with the Sixers, Iverson is widely regarded as one of the NBA’s all-time great scorers. After 14 years in the NBA, he retired as an 11x All-Star, 7x All-NBA player, 1x MVP, and 4x Scoring Champion.
