“Michael Jordan, You’re OVERRATED”: Jalen Rose, Who Never Even Made an All-Star Appearance Once Tried Trash Talking the GOAT

Jalen Rose spent his childhood in Detroit during the 80s, so we can guess his favorite team and the reason why he didn’t like Michael Jordan

Not everyone who grew up in the 80s hated the Bad Boy Pistons and not everyone loved the young, high-flying, 6’6 guard of the Chicago Bulls – Michael Jeffrey Jordan. And Jalen Rose for one certainly wasn’t among the latter.

Although the former Pacers star never played for the Pistons, he hated MJ for doing what he did with them and Detroit legend Isiah Thomas.

Also read: “Why Shouldn’t I Look Michael Jordan in the Eye?!”: Kobe Bryant Once Unheard Veteran Advice Because He Refused to Back Down From the Goat

Jalen Rose hated Michael Jordan and once called him ‘overrated’

Sometimes we do things in the heat of the moment, and we release the mistake immediately after committing it.

In one such incident, the ESPN analyst Jalen Rose, when he was still a hot-blooded youngster and was playing for the Pacers, called Jordan overrated.

The man regretted his words as soon as he uttered them to His Airness’ face and in an interview on Vlad TV told us that he saw those words coming out of his mouth while he was saying them.

Hilarious! And thinking about the level he was playing at the time, averaging not more than 10 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2 assists a game and calling multiple time NBA champ, scoring champ, All-Star, All-NBA First Team, and All-Defensive First Team member, overrated?

Rose was out of his mind. And we exactly know what Jordan does to the ones who talk smack to him, that’s what he did with Jalen. His team definitely was worth that smack talk though.

Indiana Pacers of 1997-98 almost upset MJ and Co. in the Eastern Conference Finals

One of the greatest trash talkers of all time, Reggie Miller, also learned his lesson only after trying it out against Jordan, that you better never do it, if you want to have a chance of winning.

Reggie was the face of the Pacers when Rose landed there in his third year in the league following a trade by the Denver Nuggets. And naturally, you follow your leaders in whatever they do.

Rose did follow his steps in talking trash quite earlier than he did with the basketball. Had he started averaging what he did from the 1999-00 season, Reggie’s Pacers would probably have beaten Jordan’s Bulls in the 1998 Conference Finals, which famously went to Game 7.

The man could have backed his trash talk against the GOAT by spoiling his Last Dance if he hit his prime a little earlier.

Also read: Not Michael Jordan, but Steve Kerr is the ‘Real Winner’ for Comedian Hasan Minhaj

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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