If you had to go one-on-one against Jordan, Kobe, or LeBron, with everything on the line, who would you avoid? For most fans and players alike, the answer is simple: Michael Jordan. But what made him so feared? Was it his killer instincts? Was it his footwork and fundamentals, or was it his ego to never let anyone get one over him that made him so tough to deal with? Some say it was all of the above. There’s even rare footage of Jordan battling NBA legend George Gervin, showing he welcomed any challenge, any time, against anyone, regardless of their status.

That fearless mindset showed up early. As a high school legend, Michael Finley once faced Jordan in a game of H-O-R-S-E and then a quick 3-point one-on-one. Jordan won 3–1. The footage aired on WBBM CBS in Chicago, adding to the myth. The only player he thinks even has a shot of beating him is Kobe. And the reason speaks for his confidence. He once said. “I don’t think I’d lose, other than Kobe Bryant — because he steals all my moves”. With stories like these and decades of dominance, it’s hard to believe anyone could casually claim they beat him. Yet here we are.

Not long after retiring, Lou Williams joined FanDuel TV’s Run It Back as a co-host. Just recently, the show shared a clip of Lou making a wild claim. When asked who he’d face one-on-one, he replied, “I’d probably play MJ. I kind of did already, but I’d play MJ.” Naturally, he was soon pressed for details. Lou then said, “He was at our practice with the Jordan Capital Classic back in the day in high school, and he was just messing around, checking up with everybody in the gym.” When asked the final score, he confidently replied, “11-8.” In whose favor?

“Lou Will. What competitive person in the world is going to say somebody is going to beat him? Ever,” He claimed. But here’s where things get shaky. Lou’s has talked about Jordan multiple times before, yet even after so many times, he never mentioned this game. There’s also no record of it anywhere. Strangely enough, previously, when talking about a player who could stop Jordan, Lou didn’t mention himself.

Instead, he said, “Wemby! Cause there is nobody that can stop Michael Jordan so if anybody, I’m gonna try the 7-4 guy that blocks a lot of shots…He’s never seen it. But that’s the only reason why I think Wemby can stop Michael Jordan.” Does this raise suspicion towards Lou’s claims? Absolutely.

Lou Williams isn’t buying Michael Jordan’s NBC comeback hype

Michael Jordan’s return to NBA coverage through NBC has fans buzzing, but not everyone’s sold on it. Just a couple of weeks ago, on Run It Back, Lou Williams and the crew didn’t hold back when the topic came up. As soon as the panel brought up MJ’s new media role, Lou shut it down. “Absolutely not. Not buying. Not buying,” he said with a straight face. He didn’t stop there. When Beadle joked about him showing up maybe twice, Lou responded, “Under.”

It didn’t take long for the discussion to get even more personal. Lou, clearly unimpressed, said, “Michael Jordan don’t care about no basketball player that ain’t wearing that Jumpman symbol.” He suggested Jordan’s loyalty may lie more with his brand than today’s players. Is it fair? Who can say? But the statement raises real questions about how unbiased MJ will be on air, especially when speaking on athletes outside his business circle.

Meanwhile, co-host Chandler Parsons was more curious about what was to come. He said, “We’ll get a Michael opening, like their first game, we’ll get him, and then I don’t know when he’ll come back.” While he was hopeful, he remained realistic. Parsons wants to hear Jordan’s honest takes, especially on who’s overrated or underrated, but he’s not expecting weekly appearances. That skepticism seems to be shared across the panel.

Michelle Beadle added her own comparison, bringing up Kobe Bryant’s earlier media deal. “They signed a deal, but most of the deal was that we would air, because, you know, he was producing like the animation and all that stuff.” It wasn’t about being on camera every week, it was about building content from behind the scenes. Maybe Jordan’s setup will follow that same low-profile formula. Well, the NBA legend is making bank with the deal, considering the deal is worth $40 million per year.

Whether fans see Jordan often or not, his presence has already stirred the pot. One thing is clear: even just the idea of MJ behind the mic is enough to make headlines.