Michael Jordan’s tenure with the Chicago Bulls was obviously a lot more successful than the one with the Washington Wizards. Jordan won all of his major accolades when he was with the Bulls, but Rasheed Wallace says he was a more dangerous player when he was with the Wizards.
“I think he was a little bit more dangerous when he was with the Wizards,” Wallace said. “He didn’t have the athleticism that we were used to seeing MJ have, but I’m with Bonzi (Wells), his angles were a little bit more sharp. You know you wasn’t going to move him, he was a strong two-guard… And his shot became more dangerous, you know? He became more solid as that veteran player.”
“He’s still out there talking s***,” Wallace added. “… He dropping dimes, it was like, ‘Damn.’ But the only thing he was missing was (athleticism). That’s it. His jump shot was still killer.”
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That sounds a bit absurd, but Wallace did play against both versions of Jordan. He was the fourth pick of the 1995 NBA Draft, so came into the league right when the Bulls were about to start their second three-peat.
In those three seasons, Jordan averaged 29.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. He made the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team in all three years and won two MVPs. I don’t think Jordan was at his absolute peak in those years, but he was still ridiculously good.
Now, if you look at Jordan’s tenure with the Wizards from 2001 to 2003, it’s way worse on paper. In two seasons, he averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. He made the All-Star team in both seasons, but that was that, in terms of accolades.
Jordan’s efficiency as a shooter also dipped when he was with the Wizards (shot 43.1% from the field and 24.1% from three), so I have a hard time comprehending how he could have been more dangerous there. Wallace was the one going up against him on the court, though, so I guess you just had to be there to know.
Tyronn Lue Revealed Michael Jordan Was Playing On One Leg For The Wizards
While Wallace got to face off against Jordan when he was with the Wizards, Tyronn Lue got to play alongside the icon. Lue was asked what it was like to play with Jordan and spoke glowingly of him.
“I didn’t care if he was 90,” Lue said on All The Smoke. “Come on, man. It was a blessing. When he first called, and I heard his voice, I’m like, ‘Are you serious? MJ calling me?’
“And when I first met him, just in awe man. Just to have a chance to see Black Jesus in person. I was in awe. My first year playing with him, I just didn’t know what to do. Imma throw it to him every time, just go stand. But you just get so mesmerized by how he plays.
“I don’t care if he was 40. Yeah, he was 40. He averaged 20 points a game on one leg because his knee was messed up. And he played all 82 games. That just tells you who he is.”
Jordan suffered a torn cartilage in his right knee toward the end of his first season with the Wizards and was hampered by it for the rest of his time in D.C. He still played all 82 games in his final season despite that, which is commendable. Also, the fact that Jordan’s knee was messed up, makes Wallace’s claim sound even crazier.
