In 1986, Michael Jordan dropped a magnificent 63-point performance against Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics. Despite Chicago eventually falling short in the contest, Bird personally came out to say ‘that was God disguised as Michael Jordan’. Just seven years after this, Charles Barkley’s Phoenix Suns would lose out to the Chicago Bulls in six games in the NBA Finals. In response to the tough loss, Barkley would echo a similar sentiment to that of Bird, further deifying the legend of the Bulls superstar.
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Game 1 of the Celtics vs. Bulls series in 1986 wasn’t particularly close. Boston breezed past the Chicago side with a final score of 123-104. However, Jordan came back with a vengeance in Game 2, scoring 63 points at the Boston Garden. Unfortunately, the Bulls still failed to win the game. They got swept in that series 0-3.
But things were very different at the time of the 1993 NBA Finals. The Bulls were on the cusp of a three-peat Championship run and were the most dominant team in the NBA. They had a Charles Barkley-led inexperienced Phoenix side in their way in the Finals.
The Suns went on to lose the ’93 Finals in six games. Barkley and Co. were completely at a loss facing the freight train that were the Jordan-led Bulls.
Swallowing his pain and likely some jealousy as well after the loss, Barkley only had one thing to say to describe Michael Jordan. According to the book ‘Sir Charles: Wit and Wisdom of Charles Barkley’, the Chuckster referred to Jordan as “The Black Jesus.”
The term is reminiscent of Bird’s moniker for Jordan albeit in a different context.
Unfortunately for Barkley, his loss against ‘Black Jesus’ would be the only time he would reach the NBA Finals in his career. On the other hand, Michael Jordan completed his first three-peat with the win over the Suns.
And to go along with it, perhaps his most iconic nickname would only get even more popular.
Reggie Miller never called Jordan by his name
As a young player in the NBA, Reggie Miller was already a generational talent. So when he faced off against Michael Jordan in an exhibition game, he was ready to show out.
In the first half, Miller scored an impressive 10 points, while Jordan only had 4. At that point, the Pacers legend started to talk some smack to the Bulls legend. What happened next was best explained by him during his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
MJ took it personal and dropped 44 on him by the end of the game. Miller only could manage two points more.
From that point on, the Pacers star would never call MJ by his name anymore. He would only call him ‘Black Jesus’, or ‘the Black Cat’.
