NBA legend and Hall of Famer Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. His resume is unmatched, and although it’s been 20+ years since he retired, his legacy on and off the court will live on forever.
More news: Dennis Schroder Responds to Kevin Durant’s Diss Following Team USA Gold Medal Victory
Jordan panned out a career that only very few players have surpassed or matched. Most of Jordan’s damage to opponents came as a member of the Chicago Bulls, where he led them to six NBA titles in the span of eight years, creating arguably the best dynasty in sports history.
Jordan’s legacy is set, and even though his tenure with the Washington Wizards was not one to brag about, others, including former NBA All-Star and champion Rasheed Wallace, have a different opinion.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Wallace said on his podcast, “The Sheed and Tyler Show,” that he believes Jordan was ‘more dangerous’ with the Wizards than the Bulls.
“He [Jordan] was a phenomenal player then, but I believe that he was a little more dangerous when he was with the Wizards,” said Wallace. “He didn’t have the athleticism that we were used to seeing MJ have, but his angles were a little bit sharper, he wasn’t going to move, and he was a strong two-guard. His shot became more dangerous. He became more solid as that veteran player in his years in Washington. It was like one of them: don’t leave him open.”
Wallace knows a thing or two about the difference between each Jordan. Wallace entered the league in 1995, so he got the play against the Bulls and Wizards Jordan.
It’s hard to think that Wizards Jordan was more dangerous, considering what he was about to accomplish in Chicago at the peak of his powers. In 930 games in Chicago, Jordan averaged 31.5 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.5 steals, while he shot 50.5 percent from the field and 33.2 percent from three.
Compared to his time in Washington, he averaged 21.2 points per game, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting only 43.1 percent from the field and 24.1 percent from three. Jordan was not the same player, and his shooting percentages weren’t close to what they were in Chicago.
Nobody is taking Washington Wizards Jordan over Chicago Jordan. Chicago Jordan changed the game for the better and helped propel it to new heights following the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird era.
Jordan is one of one, but the Washington version certainly isn’t.
More news: Thunder’s Chet Holmgren Backs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for NBA MVP Award
