Michael Jordan declared himself as NBA’s best player to Magic and Bird with epic seven-word message

It didn’t take long for Magic Johnson to realise Michael Jordan was the best player in the NBA.

Before Jordan’s Chicago Bulls dominated the 1990s, winning six championships in eight years, Larry Bird and Johnson were the league’s two main stars.

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Back in the summer of 1992, Team USA’s ‘Dream Team’ held a scrimmage as part of preparation for the Barcelona Olympics.

With over 11 future Hall of Famers, the scrimmage was stacked with the NBA’s finest ever.

Five-time NBA champion Johnson recalled how he provoked Jordan during, what he calls, the ‘greatest’ ever scrimmage.

“The scrimmage was the greatest basketball that we all had ever played in because of the fact that every player on the team was a Hall of Famer, an All-Star in their own right,” Johnson said on The Jimmy Kimmel Show.

“It was really fun. We got out on them by 10, 12 points, you know. And so, you know, I had to make Michael go to the ‘Air Jordan’ level.

“So I said, ‘Okay, I’m gonna go here and talk a little trash to him and see what’s going to happen’ right?”

“And this is when the torch got passed. So I said, ‘Look, MJ, if you don’t turn into Air Jordan we’re gonna blow you guys out.’

“I’ve never seen a man take something so personal and then go out there and just take that scrimmage over.”

Viewing Jordan’s competitiveness level, in what was a practice session, signalled to Johnson that this Bulls guard was the league’s best player.

“It was amazing to see him come out and just dominate, and I’m talking about dominating the best in the game,” he added.

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“That’s when we know that the torch was being passed from myself and Larry onto Michael. But I’m gonna tell you the moment that really got us. So, we got back to the hotel, right.

“And so, the NBA had built a nice lounge for the players. And so, Michael’s up there and he’s smoking on his cigar. Larry and I just sitting there, having a Coke or whatever.”

Although if Johnson needed any more confirmation that he was the league’s best, he got it from Jordan himself in an epic seven-word statement.

“He says, guys, and he put his hand on my shoulder, put his hand on Larry’s shoulder. ‘And said, ‘Guys, there’s a new sheriff in town.’” Johnson recalled.

“And so we was like, ‘oh man, what can we say?’ We said, ‘You know what? You’re right, it’s your league now.’”

After winning the Olympics with that same team, Jordan went on to dominate his USA teammates for the years to come.

His illustrious resume is evidence of that.

Michael Jordan’s achivements

Jordan ended his career with six championships that came from six NBA Finals, as he ended his career having never lost a season-ending series.

Along with his rings, Jordan picked up six NBA Finals MVP awards and five more in the regular season, along with ten scoring titles and 14 All-Star selections.

In 1988, he was named the Defensive Player of the Year, an accolade that sums up the complete player he was when coupled with his offensive awards.

The great was later inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. cementing his legacy with many considering the former Bulls star as the best player of all-time.

His other honours include ten All-NBA First Team selections, nine All-Defensive First Team selections, three All-Star MVP awards and being a two-time Slam Dunk champion.