Michael Jordan’s combination of athleticism, agility, and competitive spirit created a formidable presence on the court, allowing him to dominate games and defy the limits of what many believed was possible. For those, including Charlotte Hornets legend Glen Rice, MJ’s skill set was beyond the ordinary.
Rice had his fair share of duels with Jordan back in the ’90s. To this day, “G Money” describes the experience of competing against Jordan as facing someone with superpowers.
“Oh my God!, I mean, it was almost like you’re playing against God, but we all know that can’t happen,” Rice replied when asked what it was like to match up against MJ on Hoop Hall’s “60 Days of Summer” in 2018.
Rice declares MJ as the GOAT
Though Rice’s description of Jordan was quite unique, he also stated a sentiment echoed by many NBA fans, legends, and players alike: MJ is the rightful GOAT.
Rice argued that the Chicago Bulls superstar’s unmatched ability to dominate both offensively and defensively set him apart from other great players of his caliber.
“And the reason why I really truly believe that Michael Jordan is the best player to ever play the game of basketball is because you’ll never find a competitor who is as fierce on both ends of the floor like a Michael Jordan,” Rice added. “The leadership, the ability to make guys that are around him play above their level, it’s incredible and to be able to play against him get you fired up and we’ve had a lot of competitive battles. I mean, it’s the respect level that we have for one another; it’s huge.”
Glen Rice – Michael Jordan fight that we almost had. pic.twitter.com/ZbuQvkPqxm
— OLDSKOOLBBALL (@oldskoolbballx) May 28, 2020
Rice believes he gave MJ some problems too
Rice and Jordan faced off 29 times throughout their time as NBA players. In those clashes, MJ holds a lopsided 25-4 winning record over Glen. Nevertheless, the former Hornet likes to believe that somehow, he also caused his old pal some problems in court.
“You want to go out there, and you want to challenge the best and playing against Michael, who I considered a really good friend, it was fun. He brought the best out in me, and I didn’t want to, but I’m sure I brought the best out of him as well,” the 1997 NBA All-Star MVP once said.
In conclusion, Rice’s perception of Jordan’s almost superhuman prowess only proves that matching up against “His Airness” was not just a test of physical ability but a mental battle against a player whose talent was undeniably otherworldly.