Reigniting Bitter Michael Jordan Memories, NBA Champion Shares Decades-Old Clip of Lesser-Known 6ft 3 Veteran

Very few stars could go up against Michael Jordan on the basketball court. But there were some who were known to give him a hard time. One of them was the 1998 Assists leader. Sharing the clip of the former Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers star, NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett seemingly endorsed the now 57-year-old. In his prime, the current Long Island University head coach showed amazing prowess as a point guard across 17 seasons in the NBA.

One could argue his statistics didn’t compare to ‘His Airness’ and he didn’t win most games against him. But the DePaul University alumnus set a benchmark for point guards. He earned the title “Point God” and was known to give Jordan a run for his money. But how does he compare to Michael Jordan? The hosts of It Is What It Is and Kevin Garnett had something to say about that.

Michael Jordan had a tough time against Rod Strickland

Rod Strickland is an inspiration for many newer players. Most younger NBA fans recognize him as Kyrie Irving’s godfather. Strickland entered the NBA in 1988 and quickly established himself as a force on the court. His speed, passing, and shooting skills made him one of the finest points guards of his time. In fact, he was formidable enough to make even the great Michael Jordan tremble.

The Point God and His Airness faced off in 28 matches during their playing careers. Strickland averaged 14.1 points, 8.5 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. Jordan, however, averaged 30.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. Jordan also won most of those 28 matchups. Sure the numbers favor MJ as the G.O.A.T. in this debate at least. But Strickland didn’t make those victories easy to get.

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According to the hosts of It Is What It Is, Strickland’s quick moves could fluster Jordan on a good day. One of the most memorable moments in their matchups was when Strickland led the Washington Bullets (renamed the Washington Wizards) to victory against Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in 1997.

Kevin Garnett shared the same clip on his Instagram story throwing Strickland’s name into the hat of players who could give Michael Jordan a tough time. Garnett and Strickland were teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2002-03 season. In a single season, they left fans in awe of their on-court chemistry. Garnett’s respect for Strickland’s abilities was further highlighted when Rod appeared on KG Certified, the Celtics icon’s interview series.

Rod Strickland is now a coach

After 17 seasons in the NBA, Strickland retired from professional basketball in 2005. Like many NBA legends, he turned to coaching a new generation of basketball stars-in-the-making. He started his coaching career at the University of Memphis, moved to the University of Kentucky, the University of South Florida, and is currently the head coach of Long Island University.

Strickland’s sons, Tai, Terrell, and Temple, played college basketball. But it’s his godson, Kyrie Irving, who put his name on the map again. It’s clear Kyrie got lessons from Uncle Rod because fans can notice the similarities in their playing styles. Rod is not shy of heaping the praise on Kyrie either.

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Do you also agree with Garnett about the Strickland-Jordan comparison? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.