Kenny Rogers, Who Sang “The Gambler”, Once Faked Michael Jordan and the Latter Took it Personally

In the 1980s, the NBA had made quite a revival in terms of its popularity. This was spearheaded in no part by the emergence of superstar talents across the league. This included Chicago Bulls legend, Michael Jordan.

Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Dominique Wilkins, the options were aplenty. But none of them were so influential to the game and its popularity as their contemporary as Michael Jordan was.

His Airness and his swagger quickly became the face of the league. And it didn’t hurt that he was arguably the greatest basketball player ever.

Also read: Michael Jordan’s 1997 NBA in Paris Visit Involved 27,000 Fans and a Hilarious Eiffel Tower Photograph

But even before the rings, Jordan and his smile had won the hearts of the public. So it was no surprise that he formed a key part of Kenny Rogers ‘Classic Weekend’ in 1988.

The artist responsible for “The Gambler” had organized a three-day fundraising festival with various stars participating in the same. Michael Jordan, naturally, was the headline act of the festivities.

However, the host enjoyed a couple of highlight reel moves at Michael Jordan’s expense. And even got to be at the receiving end of Jordan’s revenge reels too, as a result of them.

After his retirement, Michael Jordan admitted there was only one man he couldn’t stop on a basketball court: Kenny Rogers. pic.twitter.com/6bOhcTQUak

— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) January 19, 2023

Kenny Rogers faked out Michael Jordan and drained a long-range jumper on his face

The Country Music Hall of Famer displayed his basketball chops during the course of the exhibition game. And the highlight reel suggests that Rogers had quite a few tricks in his arsenal too.

Considering how the event took place in 1988, an additional tidbit may be stated that adds further sheen to Rogers’ showing. The singer’s biggest highlight came against the NBA’s reigning defensive player of the year, Michael Jordan.

However, as we all know, pump-faking Jordan and scoring triggered the competitor in MJ. The man is known for “taking it personally” and got back at Rogers almost instantly, in the video footage below.

Jordan is pictured swatting Rogers’ next attempt in an emphatic manner. Quite the response indeed to being faked out by a non-leaguer.

His Airness’ response to the pump-fake comes as no surprise to an average NBA fan. After all, this is the same individual who hit all free throws at a basketball camp so that no one got free Air Jordans at his expense.

Michael Jordan didn’t miss a single free throw at the Flight School camp for kids.

In the event hosted by Chris Paul, the drill was simple. If Michael Jordan missed three free throws, all the children attending the event were set to get a pair of Air Jordans.

His Airness however, wasn’t a fan of the idea. Jordan had no intention to get the entire camp free pairs of shoes and he hit all the free throws. Every single one.

There marked the origin of the “f**k them kids” meme and the beginning of another crazy Michael Jordan tale of his competitive nature. No one gets to win at Jordan’s expense. Not even the children attending a Jordan brand camp.

Kenny Rogers can rest easy knowing that he was only at the receiving end of a swatted shot. Things could have been way worse, or more humiliating. There was no telling, with MJ.

Also read: “Michael Jordan Was Selfish and He Still Won”: Kevin Garnett Once Went Berserk in an MJ-LeBron Debate