What made Michael Jordan such a glorified figure in the folklore of NBA history wasn't just his ability to score the ball but his uncanny knack for predicting exactly how he would destroy his opponents. Similar to a boxer who calls the exact round and type of blow that will knock out their opponent, Magic Johnson recalled Jordan predicting that he was going to dominate Clyde Drexler before Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals.
Making an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show , the Los Angeles Lakers legend shared the vision MJ saw for himself just over 24 hours before tip-off against the Blazers.
"I'm on NBC calling the games. I'm at his house the night before. He called me, and we played cards. We're playing cards, and it got to be about 1 am in the morning, and the game is the next night. So I said, 'Let me go so you can get some rest.' He said, 'No, you stay here because I'm gonna tear Clyde Drexler up tomorrow.' And he got this look on his face like he wanted to play him right there ," he said.
" So I'm thinking, 'Okay, maybe he is just said that.' We get to the game, and he hits that first three. Then the second three, and the third three. Remember, he is hitting them in a row. He hits six threes. So, the last one he hit, he turned and looked at me. It was to me; what did I tell you I was going to do," he added.
The Shrug Game
The 1992 NBA Finals live long in the memory of any NBA purist. It added to the legacy of the Chicago Bulls dynasty with their second ring in as many years and acted as a pivotal moment in Jordan's career, given that he faced off against Clyde Drexler , who was widely considered the best shooting guard in the world at that time.
Needless to say, MJ made it his mission to leave absolutely no doubt who was the best player at the position by the end of the series, and that meant dominating their individual matchup from start to finish.
It started in Game 1, as Mike rattled off six three-pointers in his 39-point, 11-assist performance, leading the Bulls to a commanding 122-89 victory. As Jordan connected on three-pointer after three-pointer, the famous shoulder shrug was born, leading to one of the more iconic moments in league history.
Adding to the legend of Jordan
Moments like these created an aura that surrounded MJ throughout his career and into his retirement. They also reminded us that the Bulls legend was simply obsessed with being the best at his craft.
With a ring on the line, Jordan clearly had his heart set on proving he was the best shooting guard in the world and wanted to humiliate Drexler in the process.
One could make a case that, due to MJ's psychotic obsession with being the best, he cared more about showing up Drexler than winning the Finals. This isn't out of the realm of possibility for anyone who knew how personally Jordan took players who dared to say they were better than him.
Of course, the best of both worlds ended up transpiring, as Chicago made light work of the Blazers by collecting its second ring, and "His Airness" made sure everyone knew Clyde wasn't on his level.
Related: Kevin McHale on the difference between Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan: "Larry and Magic can control the game with 10 shots"
Most Popular
Comments / 0