“You wouldn’t run a play on his side of the court” -When Kenny Smith called Michael Jordan the ‘Deion Sanders of basketball’

Spectacular offensive plays, such as a tomahawk dunk or a 360-layup, often dominate highlight reels, leading many to believe Michael Jordan primarily built the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty on his scoring prowess. However, Kenny Smith offered a different perspective, emphasizing His Airness's often-overlooked defensive impact.

According to ‘The Jet,’ MJ’s defensive work rate was so solid that opposing coaching staff would strategically avoid running plays on the side of the court where he was positioned.

Michael played great defense

In his 16 games against the six-time Finals MVP, Smith didn’t just witness Jordan average 30.4 points but also 2.9 steals. Shedding light on the same, during his appearance on NBA TV’s Open Court series, the two-time NBA Champ highlighted how Mike was one of the first players to effectively combine athleticism with defensive fundamentals, going as far as to draw parallels between MJ and former NFL DPOY Deion Sanders.

"If you look at Michael, he had the correct hand in the passing lane," Smith said. "He was the Deion Sanders of basketball, where you wouldn’t run a play on his side of the court because he could stop you on that side."

While Mike’s defensive prowess remains evident in his nine All-NBA Defensive Team selections and his DPOY award in 1988, these accolades only scratch the surface of his defensive impact. His hard-nosed defensive style was far more crucial to the Bulls’ success than commonly acknowledged.

Jordan’s career total of 2,514 steals ranks fourth in NBA history; moreover, his 828 career blocks (as Bulls’ SG) are the most by any shooting guard in league history. So, as Smith astutely noted, MJ’s defensive prowess deserves far more recognition than it typically receives.

Related: Scottie Pippen on how Michael Jordan would have reacted if he left the Bulls: "He would have probably tried to shoot more and score more"

Jordan’s defensive prowess shone in the Bulls’ second three-peat

Looking back at the Bulls’ second three-peat from ‘95-96 to ‘97-98 season, only Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Toni Kukoc averaged points in double digits (except Luc Longley joining the exclusive group in the ‘97-98 campaign). Given that Coach Phil Jackson’s team had limited scoring options, it was apparent that they had to be at their ‘A-Game’ defensively to bring success.

In need of the hour, Mike boasted a defensive rating of 101 in the 1996 and 1997 playoffs and 103 in the 1998 playoffs. So, it is safe to say that while he became arguably the greatest scorer in NBA history, his defensive contributions were equally pivotal in securing victories for Chicago.

Related: When Bird predicted MJ would become the future of the NBA during his rookie year: "Pretty soon, this place will be packed every night, not just when the Celtics come to town"