Jacques Monclar often likes to repeat it, the notion of “two way player” in basketball is supposed to be something normal. We attack, and we defend. Nevertheless, there are elements more gifted (or more motivated) than others in this field. In today’s NBA, we talk about Paul Georgeof Kawhi Leonardd’Anthony Davisof Klay Thompson. Yes, it can be tiring to have responsibilities on both sides of the pitch.
It is for this reason that George Karl had waited for the fourth round of the 96 Final to put Gary Payton, then Defenseman of the Year, on Michael Jordan. He didn’t want it to affect his offensive performance.
Michael Jordan based his global success on his maddening scoring skills. 30 career point average. 10 times top scorer in the league. Buzzer beaters galore. This is how the general public knew the six-time NBA champion, by his brilliant offensive actions. For the most seasoned, however, Jordan was not just this immense striker. Far from there.
“He’s the best defender ever among superstars. I’ve always said that defenders who trash-talk have more impact than forwards who do. Michael was like ‘I know what you want to do, but today you are not going to do it. It was complicated for me because I was only going to the right, “balances Doc Rivers, who has crossed swords several times with the five-time MVP.
Michael Jordan, only player in history with 200 interceptions and 100 blocks two seasons in a row
In 1988, his most prosperous year individually speaking, he accumulated MVP of the season and the All-Star Game, winner of the dunk contest but also best defender of the year. An honor generally reserved for interiors. Since the introduction of the trophy in 1982, only nine outside players have won this trophy.
A genius interceptor thanks to his intensity, his active hands, but also his sense of anticipation, Michael Jordan was a rare commodity in his half of the field. He is one of three players in history (since the introduction of interceptions and blocks in the statistical lines) to have accumulated 200 interceptions and 100 blocks in a season. But he is the only one to have done it two seasons in a row! While being the most capped of the All-NBA Defensive Team with nine appearances (tied with Gary Payton, Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant).
“In my mind, Michael Jordan was a defender who became an exceptional striker. He knew the game best on this side of the pitch. The way he moved, anticipated, and his ability to invent multiple ways to score were based on his view of defense.“
In his sentence, BJ Armstrong makes an interesting parallel. It was the excellent leech that was Jordan that gave life to one of the greatest scorers of all time. Because he thought like a defender, not an attacker. And since he was a man of challenges, he also loved another thing, stopping opposing stars, regardless of their position.
“Charles Barkley was the MVP and Michael loved challenging him and shutting him up. It was personal. He wanted to make sure no one could think they were in the same category. Not Charles, Not Clyde,” Danny Ainge recalls .
Athletic qualities at the service of his intelligence
Patrick Ewing he too recalls some memories, and not necessarily the nicest ones.
“He got me a few times. The thing about him and Scottie is they were big and big and athletic enough to challenge guys like me. Michael could take the first bump. Most players can’t or don’t want to absorb the touch. He didn’t care.”
You could actually see him cutting pass lines as much as fighting with the big guys in the paint. This block from behind on Ewing, and his interception on Karl Malone in Game 6 in 1998 will remain legendary actions of His Highness. We can also mention this huge two-handed block at 40 years old. And for Doc Rivers, they sum up well what Michael Jordan was in defense.
“He had very fast hands and he was very smart in the way he used them. The more athletic and dominant you are, the less people credit you with your intelligence.
It’s funny, Bird and Magic were never great athletes and they were given credit for their brains. But Michael was just as smart.
That, combined with his athleticism, made him a suffocating defender. You were taking the ball and thinking ‘is this guy going to let me pass the midfield?'”
More arguments to feed the heated debate of the GOAT which has been all the rage since the broadcast of “The Last Dance”…
Michael Jordan, Big O: the fascinating ranking of the GOAT in 1999
