There are quite a few NBA players who have held on to the moniker of “The next Jordan” at some stage of their career. And chances are that if you were a high-flying shooting guard at the University of North Carolina, the inevitable comparison was formed more often than not.
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Jerry Stackhouse and Vince Carter were two Tar Heel sensations who were subject to the “next Jordan” hype. While both of them enjoyed successful careers in the league, neither lived up to the hype associated with their all-conquering predecessor.
Stackhouse in particular was the first Tar Heel post-Jordan to enter the league with such intrigue. A #3 overall pick just like MJ, Stackhouse was expected to be a star in the league for years to come.
A career averaging 16.9 points with a couple of all-star nods is no failure. But, that wasn’t quite what was expected from “The Next Jordan” either.
An overlap in their time as players in the league meant that the duo did face off against each other too. And Jordan, in typical fashion, eviscerated his “successor” in a duel that might just have turned personal. Why? The rookie had made a statement to the media which didn’t sit well with the GOAT.
What did a young Stackhouse say that possibly ticked Michael off?
Youthfulness and the confidence that comes with it can often be quite liberating. But sometimes, inexperience and immaturity show. At such a moment a young Stackhouse made a statement to the media about Michael Jordan.
Stackhouse, based on the evidence presented by a few pick-up games at Chapel Hill, said that no one in the league, including Michael Jordan, could stop him. And anyone who knows MJ knows that this spelled trouble all the way for the young Sixers guard.
Jordan’s response came in the form of an absolute drubbing. In a 33-point blowout, MJ and the Bulls dismantled Stackhouse and his Sixers in their first-ever NBA meeting. His Airness dropped 48 points in 34 minutes as he led both teams in scoring.
The performance even drew admiration from former Sixers superstar Dr. J. According to Roland Lazenby in Michael Jordan: The Life, “Jerry Stackhouse, a rookie out of North Carolina, learned that same lesson after boasting that he could hold his own against Jordan, based on their summer showdowns back in Chapel Hill. “Nobody can stop me in this league, not even Michael Jordan,” he told a reporter for a story in the morning papers in Philadelphia. That night, Jordan talked his way through 48 points and allowed Stackhouse a mere 13. “It was just very clinical,” said Julius Erving, who was watching from the stands.”
As for Stackhouse who had made some big claims, there was a huge reality check across the board. The rookie ended up with 13 points at 4-11 shooting as Jordan’s defensive chops were on full display.
How did the other holders of the “next Michael Jordan” tag do in the NBA?
To be seriously compared to Michael Jordan was in itself an achievement in a way. MJ was a two-way phenomenon that could outjump anyone. So, to have comparable traits was in a way, proof of solid potential.
However, such potential is not always realized by the players associated with it. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are examples of “next Jordan” stamped players who went on to win it all. However, for every Kobe, there is a Harold Miner too.
Others such as Grant Hill showed immense promise but failed to remain fit to achieve what they could have otherwise done. Stackhouse and Carter held up the Tar Heel legacy, but couldn’t live up to their individual billings.
In terms of playing style and attitude to the game, Kobe Bryant is arguably the closest we’ve seen to MJ. And considering how things have panned out, it would be kind to retire the moniker of “next Jordan”. Comparisons to the GOAT at an early stage seem to have come with pressure not everyone could handle.
