It is a well-known fact that Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players to have graced the wonderful sport. His flawless shooting skills and unbelievable mental strength made him one of the most feared competitors around. In his prime, nobody wanted to come up against Jordan, or his Chicago Bulls. Yet, there are a handful of players who believe they stood a chance with ‘His Airness’. And former Houston Rockets star Clyde Drexler is one of them.
Drexler is a veteran of the league. The 59-year-old played in the NBA for 15 years, for the Trail Blazers and Rockets. When he was at his best, the guard was a menace for opposition defenses. He averaged over 20 points in the course of his career, earning himself the title of ‘Clyde the glide’. Meanwhile, Jordan was the maverick that led the Bulls to multiple three-peats. While the pairing did play in the same era, they were never really compared.
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NBA legend Michael Jordan seating next to Larry Miller (left), the president of Nike division Jordan, attends the Jordan Classic, a contest between the 30 best French players under age 16, during a European tour to promote his clothing and shoe brand, at Stade Pierre de Coubertin arena in Paris, France. (Photo by Christophe Dupont Elise/Icon SMI/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images)
Clyde Drexler makes bold claims on Michael Jordan comparisons
Although Drexler had a phenomenal run during his time, he was never really touted as the next big thing. Nor did he find himself in the elite lists, being compared to the likes of Jordan. On the other hand, the Portland legend opined that on his given day, very few could stand a chance against him. He also acknowledged that when someone is better than you, all you can do is applaud.
In a recent interview, Drexler was asked if he felt like he was better than the likes of his Bulls counterpart. To this he replied, “I always felt like there was nobody better if I played the way I should’ve played. If I come out and compete, there’s gonna be very few guys better. And if they are, you shake their hand and say congrats.” Although Drexler is a legend of the league, perhaps he lacked that x-factor to elevate himself to the next level.
Where do you rate Rockets’ Clyde Drexler along the NBA’s icons? Do you think he can be compared with the likes of Jordan? Though the numbers favor the 14-time All-star, Drexler is also an NBA champion and a 10-time All-star himself. Thus, he has certainly left behind a legacy of his own.
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