NBA legend Michael Jordan is often used as a sports analogy in different settings. This was portrayed when American rapper Jay-Z shared how former US president Barack Obama referred to himself as the Chicago Bulls legend while asking for the artist’s help with his presidential campaign in 2008.
While sharing the details of the phone call he received from Obama, he said:
“I got a phone call and it was like, ‘Hello? Jay? It’s Obama.’… He [Obama] called me and he said, ‘You know, it’s the fourth quarter. We’re down two, and I need you to assist me. Give me the ball. I’m Michael Jordan. And I’ll get this done. I need you to go to Miami, Philly, Atlanta, and Ohio.”
Obama planned to have Jay-Z act as a spokesperson for his campaign, implementing the performing arts and the cultural relevance to mobilize voters.
Naturally, the rapper was quite moved by this gesture. But in his mind, he was still clear about who he was in this situation as he said, “This man is calling me to help out with the campaign. I’m like, I thought, ‘N***a, I’m Michael Jordan. What’re you talking about?’ That’s what I really thought.”
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In a nutshell, Jay-Z’s comment at the end is representative of Jordan’s greatness. When it comes down to it, everybody wants to “be like Mike”, Barack Obama included.
The rapper has been fairly vocal in expressing that he believes the Bulls legend is the GOAT, giving a clear response to his thoughts on the debate. Meanwhile, even the former US president had an opinion on the matter, claiming that LeBron James is simply not quite there yet because of the difference in silverware.
But when the success in the NBA Finals is taken into question, only a handful of players have been equally or more successful than the legend. With a 6-0 record in the Finals and a Finals MVP trophy to go with each one, Jordan carved out a special place for himself in league history.
Jordan’s resume is arguably one of the best the NBA has ever seen. With five MVP awards, 10x scoring titles, 14x All-Star selections, and 10x All-NBA First Team selections, he is truly a class apart. Along with this, he averaged 30.1 points per game over his career, the highest in NBA history.
As great as his offensive production was, his defensive prowess was just as elite, earning nine All-Defensive First Team nods and a Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988, further reinforcing his standing as the sport’s gold standard.
Hence, when cultural icons like Jay-Z and political leaders like Obama reference Jordan as the benchmark, it’s more than just a metaphor; it’s a nod to the pinnacle of excellence across all fields.
