For Muggsy Bogues, the NBA was nothing short of a schoolyard. Being shorter than the average perception of an NBA player’s physique didn’t make it easy for him either. But those who looked down on him, namely certain 6X champions, were left nursing wounded pride on a few occasions. Sure at 5’3″, Bogues had tough mountains to climb when facing opponents like 6’6″ Michael Jordan and 6’8″ Scottie Pippen. Yet three decades after their clash that Bogues lost, he can look back on it without regrets.

For any athlete who’s been in his shoes, Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues wrote on X, “If I listened to all the naysayers I would’ve never played basketball, let alone the NBA for as long as I did and been able to strip Greats like MJ and Scottie Pippen… Never back down!!! Believe in yourself even if no one else will… #heartoverheight.”

It went with a clip of that 1995 game when he was guarding Michael Jordan. Standing well over a foot over the Charlotte Hornets player, His Airness was his most notorious bully. But Bogues was remarkable enough to give him a hard time. Like guarding him in this clip and making Jordan miss his shot.

Bogues always made it known that Jordan wasn’t malicious. He debunked several rumors like Jordan had mean nicknames for him. According to Bogues, Jordan nicknamed him, “Short lil fella” and sort of served as his mentor. He reciprocated respect for his opponents, calling Jordan his GOAT at the same time saying Scottie Pippen was not to be scoffed at.

His opponents in Chicago helped toughen him up too. But their 1995 playoff matchup was a lesson in competition.

Muggsy Bogues cancels out Michael Jordan humiliation

Far greater than Muggsy’s height was his ball-handling skills. He had the ability to make his opponents underestimate him before he ups the pressure. But one game against the Bulls who had three championships then, became an urban legend in itself. Apparently, Jordan ‘allowed’ Bogues to shoot without opposition from the Black Cat. He ended up missing that shot.

Legend dictates that the insult broke Bogues’ morale and he never recovered his confidence. His career went downhill and he averaged only 5.9 ppg. That however is made up. Bogues himself said on All the Smoke that Jordan never made a mean comment.

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It is true that the undersized guard endured a lot of bullying over his height. It wasn’t easy in his youth but he endured in the pros. He never let his height be a disadvantage, proven from his post. He reiterated the same in an interview with the Mulligan Brothers. “My heart was bigger than my height, so I didn’t have any hang-ups believing that I belonged with the best of the best because my heart was just as big as theirs.” Knowing Michael Jordan, how could he belittle a spirit like that?