Michael Jordan was a huge draw every time he took the basketball court. It did not matter if it was a practice session or an official game; if he was around, one had to catch him in action.
Among those who attested to the elite vibe that the legendary guard exuded was NBA champion and Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, who had a courtside view of how Jordan evolved into a legend from the start.
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In an interview with Sports Illustrated while coaching the San Antonio Spurs in the early 1990s, Brown spoke highly of his fellow University of North Carolina alum, sharing that Jordan was simply a cut above the rest.
“Michael — he’s the best. I grew up with Connie Hawkins. I saw Julius [Erving] at his peak. No one went through the ACC like David Thompson. I love Magic [Johnson] and Larry [Bird]. But Michael, as far as what I’ve… I’d pay money to see him play. I’d pay money to see him practice,” said Brown.
A fierce competitor
What made Jordan special to watch was that he was a fierce competitor and had a tremendous drive to win and succeed. He always strove for perfection and expected the same from his teammates.
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It is a mindset, Jordan said, that he started developing at an early age in his intense backyard battles with his older brother, Larry, as they tried to get their father’s attention.
“I always felt like I had to prove myself against Larry to get my father’s attention,” Michael said in a 1996 interview with the Los Angeles Times.
And it is hard to argue that such a frame of mind had not contributed to his success in his basketball journey.
After failing to make the cut for his high school varsity team in North Carolina in his sophomore year, he came back better, becoming a McDonald’s All-American.
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Jordan stayed home for college, choosing to play for UNC and experienced a lot of success. He helped the Tar Heels win the NCAA title in 1982 as a freshman, hitting the game-winning shot with 15 seconds left to beat Patrick Ewing and Georgetown in the championship game. During his three years in North Carolina, he received numerous accolades, including player and athlete of the year honors.
In 1984, Jordan joined the NBA, where he further grew his legend. He was a six-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, a five-time league MVP, a 14-time All-Star, a Defensive Player of the Year winner and a 10-time scoring champion.
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MJ’s lasting impact
As further proof that Jordan was a rare breed, he remains top of mind in basketball conversations more than two decades after retiring from the NBA. His influence on the game of basketball remains strong.
“I think that every generation really has their own thumbprint, but if you look at Michael’s influence you still see the shaved heads out there on the court — still see people playing with a great deal of flare,” Jordan Brand’s Howard White told Sports Illustrated.
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While Jordan’s standing as basketball’s GOAT is being challenged of late by players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, for Brown and others who got to see him play in his heyday, he is one of a kind.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
