Michael Jordan Once Disrespected A Three-Time NBA All-Star

Shandel Richardson | Oct 12, 2024

Phil Jackson entered the 1997-98 season knowing it would be his last with the Bulls. Michael Jordan insisted he wouldn't play for any other coach. 2020-04-19 Michael Phil / Anne Ryan, USA TODAY, USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Michael Jordan was only trying to offer a compliment.

Instead, his words offended former NBA player Gilbert Arenas. In 1998, Arenas was invited to play at the Jordan Camp before the start of his senior year in high school.

After a strong game, Jordan gave Arenas what should have been encouraging words by comparing him to a Chicago Bulls teammate. To Arenas, who is now a podcast host, it was the wrong teammate.

"I was the first person to wave MJ off," Arenas said. "I went to Jordan Camp and I had like 40. He was like, `Aw man, you remind me of one of the players on my team. And I'm like, Oh [expletive], I remind him of like [Scottie] Pippen or himself. He was like, `Yea, you remind me of, you know Randy Brown? Randy Brown? The (expletive) don't even play."'

And he took it personally.. #fyp#gilbert #gilbertarenas #agent0 #nochillgill #nba #mj #nbathrowback #NBA

Posted by Court Cast Clips on Tuesday, July 23, 2024

In Brown's defense, he was one of the key cogs in the Bulls' second three-peat in the 1990s. He athleticism was underrated. He was also a solid defender.

But it wasn't enough for Arenas. He was so upset he "froze" Jordan out the game he participated in with the rest of the campers.

"He ain't never getting this ball back," Arenas said. "And that's what I did, iced him. if you want the ball from me, you better get it off the glass."

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Back In The Day Hoops On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

Follow our coverage on Facebook

X: @BackInTheDayNBA