Even the most elite NBA defenders dreaded provoking Michael Jordan to the point where he would unleash his relentless and infamous trash-talk. That scenario would be even more daunting for an ordinary individual who's not a basketball player. However, actor Anthony Anderson found himself in that situation when what began as a friendly game of dominoes with the five-time MVP quickly escalated into fierce competition, with His Airness prompted to attack with his verbal jabs.
Anderson was fiercely trash-talked by Mike
During his appearance on Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast, Anderson recounted that particular incident. It all started when he, confidently boasting about his skills, asked Mike to play a game using a custom set of Jumpman dominoes. Referring to himself as The MJ of dominoes, the Hollywood actor unknowingly triggered the six-time Finals MVP's competitive nature.
From that point on, Jordan raised the stakes, becoming so engrossed in the game that he extended his trash-talk to include Anderson's wife.
"He turned to my wife and he said, 'Sweetheart, I suggest you go to the bank and take out as much money as you can. Because after I whip his ass, he will not be able to provide for you and your children,'" Anderson recalled .
Moreover, Anthony elaborated on the intensity of Jordan's verbal jabs, noting that the New York native seemed to spare no aspect of his personal life in his relentless trash-talk.
"MJ is talking cash s**t," Anderson added. "He's talking about my momma. He's talking cash trash, and I have to sit there and just take it."
Related: "Tell me who's been the better teammate over the years?"- Ex-Bull said Michael Jordan, unlike Scottie Pippen, never ignored his texts
Actor came out on top
Despite being the target of the 14-time All-Star's aggressive comments, to say the least, the actor remained confident. After initially falling behind, he staged a comeback and won the game. Unsurprisingly, Jordan did not take the defeat graciously.
"Whenever we're taking a group photo or picture… he tells me to get out of the picture," Anderson concluded.
The victory provided the actor and comedian with a memorable tale that he would continue to tell for years. On the other hand, for Jordan, the loss only highlighted his competitive drive to win at all costs, even at dominoes. Mike despised losing at anything.
Related: Ex-Kings assistant on Michael Jordan's defensive abilities: "If he only had to score 15 or 16 a game, he'd be the best on defense"
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