June 5, 1998; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan in game two of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Anne Ryan-USA TODAY
June 5, 1998; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan in game two of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Anne Ryan-USA TODAY
In his glorious 15-season NBA career and the later part of being deemed the Greatest, Michael Jordan came across many rivalries. But there was a particular one that stood out the most.
The Air Highness’s on-court rivalries with Detroit Pistons’ Isiah Thomas or New York Knicks’ Patrick Ewing are more on the famous side. But surprisingly, the 63-year-old was by far the most irritated by someone else.
“I don’t really dislike anyone in the league, but playing Reggie Miller drives me nuts,” Jordan once shared. “His game is all this flopping-type thing. He only weighs 185 pounds, so you have to be careful; don’t touch him, or it’s a foul…”
Unknown Date; Cleveland, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bulls guard (45) Michael Jordan wears jersey#45 shortly after his return from a brief retirement following playing baseball against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gund Arena. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright USA TODAY Sports
Unknown Date; Cleveland, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bulls guard (45) Michael Jordan wears jersey#45 shortly after his return from a brief retirement following playing baseball against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gund Arena. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright USA TODAY Sports
For the 6’7, 185-pound Indiana Pacers’ legend, outmuscling MJ was an impossible task. But despite Jordan using his 215-pounds to “move (Miller) out”, Miller would still find a way to have “his hands on (him) all the time.”
Miller’s relentless guarding notably gave the Chicago Bulls one of the toughest times during the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. And sometimes, an irritated Jordan even wanted to “beat his hands off because it’s illegal.”
But despite how irritating Miller appeared to MJ, one of the league’s finest trash-talkers never really tried to challenge the Air Highness.
Reggie Miller Didn’t Want to Challenge Michael Jordan
From rookies to legends, none fell out of Miller’s radar of trash-talking. The Pacers’ star’s physicality came short to many, but his mind games didn’t. However, Miller admitted that the same tactics didn’t work on Jordan.
“Were we friends? No, we weren’t friends,” Miller admitted years later. “Did we talk to each other on the floor? He might have been the one player I didn’t talk to. Because he might have been the one player who could really embarrass you. He could come right back at you.”
In fact, Miller would argue, Michael Jordan “is not human.” His famous question in 1999 was, “Has anyone ever seen him bleed?” Subtly addressing the unmatched and generational talent Jordan brought to the paint.
With that being said, who do you think was Michael Jordan's greatest Rival? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy
Edited by
Souvik Roy