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Allen Iverson vividly recalls the first time he met Michael Jordan

"The guy was glowing or something, man."

Stephen Beslic

© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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Every player who got the opportunity to share the floor with Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan has their own story to tell. For Allen Iverson, his first encounter with Jordan left a lasting impression on him. In an interview with The Player’s Tribune, “The Answer” detailed how he felt the moment he first saw Jordan in the flesh, describing the experience as surreal.

Iverson’s idol growing up

Anybody who came across the Hampton, Virginia native knew who he wanted to be like growing up—Jordan. Whether it was his smooth moves, killer mentality, or signature style, Iverson saw himself in Jordan. So when the opportunity came for him to meet his idol, Iverson was beyond ecstatic.

"Anybody that know Allen Iverson know Black Jesus was it for me. I wanted to be like Mike. I remember the first time seeing him; I couldn’t believe it, man. I ain’t never looked at a person in my life — and I’ve seen millions of celebrities — I never looked at somebody that didn’t look real. Never. Like, the God damn guy was glowing or something, man," Iverson said.

Earned his respect

While Iverson greatly admired Jordan as a fan, he was also an unyielding competitor who fearlessly faced opponents, irrespective of their status or reputation. In Iverson’s rookie season, he had the opportunity to face off against Jordan and proved himself a worthy adversary.

In one memorable game, Iverson crossed over Jordan not once but twice, leaving him stumbling on the court. It was a defining moment for Iverson and solidified his place in the league as a force to be reckoned with.

“I’m looking at it, that’s him. I’m looking at his socks; he got the Jordan’s on. I was blown away. But once they did that (mimicking the referee’s tip-off) - SHOWTIME. They always gonna know who the 23 is, but tonight, they gonna know who the number 3 is,” Iverson continued.

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Stephen Beslic
STEPHEN BESLIC

Stephen Beslic is a writer on Sports Illustrated's FanNation Network. Stephen played basketball from the age of 10 and graduated from Faculty of Economic and Business in Zagreb, Croatia, majoring in Marketing.

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