Home

NBA

“If He Can’t Beat You, He’s Not Going to Play”: Will Smith Reveals the Fierce and Competitive Side of Michael Jordan

Published 04/28/2020, 9:23 AM EDT

Follow Us

Michael Jordan is very much respected around the world. His championships speak for themselves. Above all, he is also regarded as the fiercest competitors you can ever come up against. 

If you ask his Chicago Bulls teammates, they’ll tell you how much it means for Jordan to register a victory. He is driven by his hunger to win. Hollywood actor Will Smith absolutely agrees with the fact that he is competitive. But he also had a few mentions when it comes to the areas where MJ becomes totally insane. 

Michael Jordan wants to win at everything

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Will Smith spoke about his friendship with Michael Jordan when he made an appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live,’ about three years ago. The Mission Impossible star weighed in on Michael Jordan when Kimmel dug up an old picture of the Bulls legend posing with Will Smith. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Kimmel asked him the experience of socially hanging out with MJ to which Smith sheepishly replies, “It’s like a competition!” He put forth how Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods are the most competitive guys he has ever met.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

“I love being around people with that kind of competitive energy, but like, Mike will compete with anything, though,” Smith said. “If we’re drinking water, Mike be: ‘I’ll race you! You can’t beat Mike at anything. If he can’t beat you then he’s not going to play.”


Smith also credited the immense success that Jordan and Woods have found, to their never-ending desire to win. “It is on another level. It’s like a command on their mind,” he said. The Hollywood veteran also detailed how Michael Jordan would even want to come on top in the simplest of things.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

This winning driven mind enabled MJ to conquer the NBA in his prime. He earned his reputation from being the best on a constant level. Wanting to win at the simplest of things signifies their attitude towards every single situation. No player can simply go out there and win six NBA titles, five MVP awards, and forge their name into the history of the sport.

After all, it takes a sacrifice to get to the top of the mountain you want to climb. Jordan was ready for whatever it takes and he scaled it, drawing the attention of everyone around him as well. Smith did mention one part which he is not good at. Kimmel asked him, “When you go to dinner with Michael Jordan, is he racing you to pick up the check?” Smith was quick to respond with banter. “Nah, yeah. He’s not good at that.”

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Arjun Athreya

2,181Articles

One take at a time

Arjun Athreya is a senior writer at Essentially Sports and has been contributing since early 2020. Having developed an avid interest in sports at an early age, he pursued a Journalism degree and graduated from Madras Christian College. Arjun manages the Golf division and its content, and primarily covers news pertaining to the NBA as well.
Show More>