Michael Jordan didn’t simply earn the title His Airness. That man could fly. Gliding through the air for dunks or blocks; no! You dare not stop him! I don’t think even the greatest point guard, Magic Johnson, dared to block the beast. However, it was one of the most unique traits; a peculiar habit, rather, of MJ that helped him develop that terror among his rivals that even to this day, the Los Angeles Lakers legend hasn’t forgotten.

MJ had a habit of sticking his tongue out. He said that he unconsciously picked this from his father. Now, during the 90s, when Jordan and Johnson were often going one-on-one against each other, the latter often undermined the Chicago Bulls superstar’s abilities. Meanwhile, in 1992, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan teamed up for the Dream Team, but practice turned into a spectacle. After Magic’s bold trash talk, Jordan answered with a tongue-out 360-degree dunk that left Johnson stunned. To him, it became the single greatest bucket he had ever witnessed.

Years later, Magic gave his honest verdict on MJ. He recently appeared on Earn Your Leisure for one of the most legendary conversations. Weighing in on the matter of the ‘baddest boy’ in the NBA, the 66-year-old knows who it is. LeBron James vs Michael Jordan. There is no doubt, there is no question. Just one name.

“It ain’t no question. Just like it ain’t no question what he going to do to me. Dunks and all that. That’s what makes him a bad boy and the best that’s ever been done. Don’t get it twisted. I love LeBron, but I love my boy. I love him,” Magic Johnson confessed before thousands of people in the crowd.

He further added, “But when Michael Jordan took off with that tongue out—hold up, hold up, hold up—listen, cuz a lot of you wasn’t born then. 1991 against my Lakers. Right hand. We thought we had him. He looked as we went down. He switched it to the left. Tongue went left. Spun it against the glass and good. There’s nobody alive who’s been able to do just that. That boy is too bad. I’m telling you right now.” Finally, giving the ultimatum, Johnson said, “But LeBron is a bad boy too. He’s a bad boy, but he’s not Michael.”

MJ averaged 30.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in 13 games versus Magic Johnson in his career. Meanwhile, in the 1991 NBA Finals alone, Jordan averaged 31.2 PPG, 11.4 APG, and 6.6 RPG, compared to Johnson’s 18.6 PPG, 12.4 APG, and 8.0 RPG. The 1991 NBA Finals crowned the Chicago Bulls over the Los Angeles Lakers 4–1, marking Michael Jordan’s first Finals and Magic Johnson’s last. Jordan averaged 31.2 points on 56%, with 11.4 assists and his iconic switch-handed layup, while Scottie Pippen’s defense shifted momentum. Injuries hurt LA, and NBC’s first Finals broadcast captured the dynasty’s birth.

Now, coming back to Michael Jordan‘s unique habit of sticking his tongue out, his confessions in the past interviews are pretty intriguing. His candid confessions about this quirk have sparked fascination. It was more than showmanship. It carried rhythm, instinct, and edge, adding mystery to his already ruthless greatness.

The story behind Michael Jordan’s quirk, which even Magic Johnson feared

In his early interviews, Jordan often brushed off any explanation for his peculiar tongue-out habit. At first, he claimed it happened unconsciously, offering no reason for it. However, as time passed, the gesture transformed into one of his most recognizable trademarks. Ultimately, what began as a quirk evolved into an emblem of flair, precision, and competitive instinct that fans could never ignore.

Later, Jordan revealed the true origin of the habit, pointing directly to his father’s influence. Watching him work as a child, he copied the simple gesture without realizing it would define him forever. Speaking about it, MJ once commented: “Well, it’s an unconscious habit that I picked up from my father. Being a little kid and you’re watching your father work, he used to stick his tongue out, and I took it up and made it a habit.”

Life in the Chicago Bulls locker room wasn’t the easiest, given the championship mentality and heat, but Michael Jordan thrived on it. With his tongue out, he tormented legends like Magic Johnson and left even Dream Team practices in awe. From the 1991 Finals to his confessions years later, the habit became myth, carrying rhythm, instinct, and edge. It was more than flair. It was a weapon, a signature, and a reminder that greatness often hides in the quirks.