Basketball

“We Knew How to Slow Michael Jordan Down”: 4x NBA Champ Didn’t Have MJ in His Top 5 As Bad Boy Pistons Had His Number

Nithin Joseph
|PublishedDec 27, 2022

“We Knew How to Slow Michael Jordan Down”: 4x NBA Champ Didn't Have MJ in His Top 5 As Bad Boy Pistons Had His Number

May 1989; Detroit, MI, USA: FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan (23) is defended by Detroit Pistons center James Edwards (53) during the 1988-89 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at The Palace. The Pistons defeated the Bulls 4 games to 2. Mandatory Credit: MPS-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Jordan is without a shadow of a doubt one of the greatest players in NBA history. He has achieved all the league had to offer.

Six NBA Championships, six Finals MVPs, five League MVPs, a DPOY, and numerous All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive teams made. With a resume like that, Jordan’s legendary status cannot be denied.

That being said, there are those who do not believe that he is the GOAT. John Salley, who faced His Airness on numerous occasions is one of them. Why does he say otherwise? Because he and his former team the Pistons knew how to stop MJ!

Also Read: “Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the Greatest Player Ever”: James Worthy, Who Beat Michael Jordan for Most Outstanding Player, Once Declared KAJ His GOAT

John Salley claimed Michael Jordan is not in his Top-5 All time because he and the Bad Boy Pistons knew how to stop him

It’s not uncommon for basketball fans around the world to have Michael Jordan in their Top 5 list of greatest NBA players. However, the same cannot be said of four-time NBA Champion, John Salley.

Salley, who faced MJ several times has five to six players he consistently mentions. Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and a toss-up between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Why does he not have Jordan? Well, because having been a member of the Bad Boy Piston, he knew how to stop His Airness.

“We knew how to slow Michael down or how to play against Michael. I knew everything. He didn’t like using his left. I knew his fadeaway going to his right is different from his fadeaway when he was falling to his left. He fakes the fadeaway and goes up and under. I know when he dribbles the ball two times he would put it in his right hand. We knew that. We would count. One…two…and then we would run back.”

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Everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if it is one not agreed on by many. But, it does make things a bit awkward, especially considering Salley and MJ are former teammates.

John Salley played with MJ for one year on the Chicago Bulls in 1996

John Salley not having Jordan in his Top 5 is a bit weird. After all, he and Michael are former teammates, having played together on the 1996 Chicago Bulls. Even winning a championship together.

Safe to say things might be a bit awkward between the two. After all, Jordan is known to hold grudges.

Also Read: “Michael Jordan and LeBron James Are On the Same Level”: When Jerry ‘The Logo’ West Heaped Praise On The King For Being as Good as MJ

About the author

Nithin Joseph

Nithin is a content writer at The SportsRush. Like his favorite athlete Kobe Bryant, the company has helped Nithin elevate his writing skills to a whole new level, especially as an NBA content writer. With over 1500 articles to his name, Nithin's love for the sport knows no bounds. And, as he continues to watch the sport on a daily basis, he hopes his fascination with the NBA, especially the Miami Heat will inspire more and more readers to give the sport a chance. Perhaps, one day making basketball in India as big as it is in the United States.