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5’3 NBA Star, Whose Career Ended After Michael Jordan’s “Midget” Comment, Overshadows 6’11 Kevin Durant in a Rebounding Stat

Published 08/08/2023, 11:20 AM EDT

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In the vast history of the NBA, certain players have defied conventional expectations. They have left an indelible mark on the game and narrative of the sport. Be it Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, Michael Jordan‘s impact, or Bill Russel’s extraordinary path full of victories. With time, there have been players that have woven themselves into the thread of NBA lore. However, amidst these towering figures exists a player who, despite his relatively small stature, carves out a distinctive place in the realm of statistics. Thanks to a fan on Reddit, a star reflects on the unnoticed nuances and intricacies of basketball.

During his time on the court, Muggsy Bogues captivated the hearts of fans and became a true favorite. Standing at just 5’3″, the remarkable guard defied his stature and seemingly outshines even Kevin Durant in a pivotal statistic where height reigns supreme and means almost everything.

Shortest NBA player tops Kevin Durant in a unique stat line

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During his guest appearance on The Hoop Chat, Emily Austin interviewed Bogues. Emily is a 22-year-old celebrity, writer, journalist, and social media influencer. The New York-based talent has worked in various boxing events besides her NBA talk shows. Additionally, she was the judge for the 71st Miss Universe Pageant this year.

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During the conversation, Muggsy was confronted with an intriguing question: “What are your thoughts on having a better offensive rebound percentage than Kevin Durant?” A chuckle escaped him, yet he responded with humility and astonishment. “Even though I was a small guard, I always got those long rebounds,” Bogues revealed.

I chased them down, I was in the right place at the right time, but I didn’t know my percentage was better than Kevin Durant,” he radiated his amusement at the exciting stat. He concluded with a playful jab, suggesting, “He needs to get in there and rebound a little more.”

Muggsy Bogues is listed at 5’3 in the NBA with a 2.3 career offensive rebounding percentage. Kevin Durant stands at 6’11” with a 2.2 career offensive rebounding percentage. The unique stat showcases the finer areas of the game and how one can affect them if they want to.

Bogues denies that Michael Jordan called him a midget

As one of the NBA’s most formidable trash talkers, Michael Jordan relied on mentally rattling opponents. Among the tales circulating is a legendary instance where the 5’3″ Muggsy Bogues found himself supposedly on the receiving end of the Bulls superstar’s barbs. It was rumored that Jordan had labeled the former Charlotte Hornets star as a “midget.”

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However, Bogues quickly dispels this rumor, shedding light on the dynamic between him and Michael Jordan. “It was some stuff on the internet where they said he called me a mi**et, which is not true. He always called ‘Lil fella,’ ‘Lil a**’ and that short stuff,” he said.

Michael Jordan is arguably the fiercest competitor the league has ever seen. As much as he loved trash talk, some say he avoided slurs that hit the person.

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Michael Jordan played 15 seasons in the NBA, while Muggsy Bogues had a 14-year career. Both players spent their entire pro basketball life in the Eastern Conference but met in the playoffs once.

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Written by:

Saahil Dhillan

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Saahil Dhillan is an NBA Writer at Essentially Sports. He has been writing articles and blogs for 5 years now, including those for a sports brand that manufactures knee braces, for a Red Bull athlete in 2019 and for a documentary of an Ultra Running Coach in 2021. There’s plenty Saahil can write about why he likes basketball, having followed the NBA for more than 10 years, but he is most keen on picking out various offense/defense strategies, on/off-court decisions, roster changes in crunch time and other underrated key elements that leave an impact on the scoreboard.
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Edited by:

Saumya Khanduja