Landon Buford
In the 1990s era of basketball in the NBA, two of the most polarizing figures in the league were Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller.
They were also two players that you did not want to talk trash to throughout your careers. Legendary filmmaker Spike Lee knows firsthand with Reggie Miller, and Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett found that out his rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, which one was harder to guard when they are talking trash to you? Ex NBA veteran Nick Anderson shared it was Michael Jordan. The former Orlando Magic guard was recently interviewed by Bally Sports Brandon’ Scoop B’ Robinson was asked which one was tougher to defend.
“Michael Jordan, and the reason why I say this is because Mike can beat you in multiple ways. Post up, mid-range game, knocking down the three, and with all due respect, Reggie [Miller] when he got it going a. He’s talking smack, chasing the guy off of four or five screens. You got Rik Smits, Dale Davis, and Antonio Davis setting screens, and Derrick McKee coming off those screens, and Mark Jackson hitting shots coming off those screens. Then when he was hitting the shots, he started that chirping, but Reggie did not post up a lot. Reggie did not shoot the mid-range as much as MJ [Michael Jordan]. So, to answer your question, it was MJ,” “aid Anderson.
“You didn’t want none of that smoke!” “Mike could beat you in multiple ways. Post up, mid range game, knocking down a three.”
If you were to ask Reggie Miller if he ever talked trash to Michael Jordan, he would say just once, and it was a mistake.
During his rookie year, Reggie Miller and the Pacers were taking on the Bulls in the preseason and found out real why you don’t talk smack to ‘Black Jesus.’
“My rookie year we were playing the Chicago Bulls. Most veterans do not like to play in exhibition games, they want to get to the real thing. I’m a wide-eyed, energetic rookie and…Michael’s going through the motions,” Miller told Jimmy Kimmel.
“Chuck Person—who’s on my team—who is a trash-talker as well, is like, “Can you believe Michael Jordan, the guy everyone’s talking about, who’s supposed to be able to walk on water? You’re out here killing him, Reg! … You should be talking to him!” And I was like, “You know what, you’re right!”
“Michael…who do you think you are? The great Michael Jordan? That’s right, there’s a new kid on town!” He kind of looks at me and starts shaking his head. So at half I have 10, and he has four points…end of the game, the second half, he ended up with 44 and I ended up with 12. So he outscored me 40-2. And as he’s walking off, he’s like, “Be sure, and be careful, you never talk to Black Jesus like that.”
The 2021-22 NBA season starts in ten days.
