It’s an understatement that Michael Jordan inspired many basketball players. It became obvious in 2003 when Air Jordan was stepping away from the NBA as a player for good. Someone who had the opportunity to call him a teammate for a single college season followed him to the NBA court. This retired pro now shares a desk with Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Ernie Johnson in a cushy broadcast studio. In the past, he tried to be the last man standing with MJ.

When Michael Jordan was in his final NBA season, the media had all kinds of tributes pouring in. TNT got its future regular panelist, Kenny ‘The Jet‘ Smith, to share his Jordan story. Smith delivered with a Tar Heel era incident.

Kenny Smith tried to be like Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan had a young Kenny Smith on his heels when he started his NBA career. They’re both UNC alums and stars of the Tar Heels basketball team. Smith arrived in Chapel Hill in 1983 and played with Jordan in his final season as a Tar Heel. Jordan would join the Chicago Bulls in 1984 and Smith, the Sacramento Kings in 1987.

Many who were there would agree that college-going Michael Jordan was good but didn’t show the superstar potential he would rise up to. Smith thought he peaked as soon as he got to the NBA. “I really didn’t think he was going to be as good as he is now,” Smith said in 2003.

Jordan is the greater Tar Heel athlete in history now. But back then, it was another teammate, Sam Perkins, who was actually idolized at UNC. “Michael was kind of like a second fiddle because Sam was a four-year All-American.”

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Perkins was picked first overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1984 draft over Jordan. He would not win any championships, but MJ did. When Jordan was out playing baseball during his first retirement, Kenny would win his two NBA championships with the Houston Rockets. He’d retire in 1997 by when Jordan was busy lifting more Larry O’Brien trophies.

Kenny’s tenure alongside his UNC teammate remains on his mind because of an incident he recalled at Jordan’s final retirement. Cinematically, it was always Jordan’s plan to end his career on a high note according to The Jet.

The ‘Inside Guy’ tried to be like MJ

The only time Smith was on the same team as Jordan was when they were playing in the summer league as college athletes. An interaction went down between them that the veteran analyst would recall a few more times in recent years. One of the times was in 2003.

Back then, they played several games and the players would leave the court to hydrate. Not His Airness. “Michael would always have to be the first after the game stand in the middle of the court,” Smith narrated. After watching him do that at every game, Kenny naturally asked why he was doing that. He got the most MJ response ever.

“Because when everybody is off the court, I want to say that I’m still on the court more than anyone,” then Tar Heel Jordan told Kenny. It was such an interesting premise, Smith said, “Okay, let me stand in, man.” He wanted to be like Mike, and he did. Kenny followed his senior into the NBA and built a stacked career opposite Jordan.

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