Stories of Michael Jordan‘s elite basketball skills have been shared countless times by players, coaches, and analysts, all recognizing what made him the NBA’s GOAT. Even after his second retirement, Jordan returned to the court and continued to play at a high level. Kevin Garnett recalls facing a 40-year-old Jordan during that time.
Kevin Garnett was reflecting on his early years as a rising star in the league, when he had the challenge of guarding Michael Jordan. Speaking on KG Certified, he shared his experience:
Mike was a motherf***er, though, both times. Because he was still talking that s**t, he was still skilled, it was just health with him. And I had to guard that motherf***er. You know, I ain’t played the three in a minute but Flip (Saunders) was like, ‘Nah, you the only one that can guard Mike.’ (I was like) ‘We got two guards on here. What the f**k, our two guards can’t?’
Kevin Garnett said
All of 6′ 11″ Kevin Garnett could not guard Jordan. He explained that Michael Jordan went at him at his own pace and will, and ended up dropping around 40 points on him.
Garnett was tasked with guarding the 40-year-old Michael Jordan, a job typically assigned to a shooting guard or small forward. However, head coach Flip Saunders recognized that their guards couldn’t keep up with Jordan, so he entrusted the highly mobile Garnett with the assignment.
Wizards Michael Jordan was giving KG & Paul PROBLEMS 👀⁰⁰“He was still talkin’ that sh*t. He was still skilled. And I had to guard that MF.”
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But Garnett claims he did not even practice defending the three (small forward) positions. But as his coach wanted him to use his near 7′ 5″ wingspan to stop Jordan, the 6-time champion pulled a trick out of his bag. He shot a rainbow which even Garnett could not stop.
40-year-old Michael Jordan clamped Paul Pierce
Later on in the segment, Paul Pierce joined the conversation to reflect on his own experiences facing Michael Jordan. Pierce, who had gone up against the 5-time MVP a few times, was reminded by his producer:
Your first meeting, P, he had 32 points.
To this when Paul Pierce asked what he put up against Jordan, his producer replied;
You had 14!
This revelation left Pierce visibly shocked as he could not believe that Jordan had put the clamps on him in some of his early years in the league.
The league was already aware of Michael Jordan’s defensive prowess. But for a 40-year-old to clamp down a 20-something player suggests he used his years of experience and intelligence to win the battle.
As these testaments keep coming, it goes on to add to the notion that Michael Jordan was, without doubt, the best ever. No one in the NBA has matched his accomplishments, and these examples highlight why he remains unparalleled.
