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Analyst Has a Surprise Answer to Who He Considers the Closest to Michael Jordan in Current Era

Published 04/21/2020, 2:52 PM EDT

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Ever since the launch of the Michael Jordan centric ‘The Last Dance‘, fans are comparing the NBA legend and LeBron James. However, a new positive comparison with Russell Westbrook seems to give another angle to the discussion.

Is Russell Westbrook the current Michael Jordan?

Houston Rockets’ point guard Russell Westbrook has a dynamic playing style and an elusive demeanor to go with it. He has a score-first mentality. Taking this into consideration, one may understand why Westbrook is being compared to the 90s MJ.

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FOX Sports Radio’s host Colin Cowherd recently revealed, on air, that he observed a lot of traits from the old MJ in the current Russell Westbrook. Long time followers of the radio show host know of Cowherd’s dislike with the Rockets player. However, this time he had praise.

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Cowherd said, “Russell Westbrook plays hard every night. No possessions off. He drives me crazy, but there’s a lot of Jordan with Westbrook.”

 

 

Cowherd revealed there were times when he wanted to tell Westbrook to slow it down. However, after watching the initial episodes of the docuseries, he realized that Westbrook has the same drive that Jordan had.

Explaining the same, Cowherd described an old Jordan incident. Jordan was hurt, and the doctors told him he could play, but if he gets hurt again, his career could be over. Jordan held a grudge against his owner that time because he said they should not take the risk.

” I thought to myself, Michael’s got some crazy in him, Westbrook’s got some crazy in him. He’s not my favorite player, but I respect the hell out of Westbrook,” he added.

Jordan finds his younger self in Westbrook

In a promotional venture for the Air Jordan XXXI in 2016, Michael Jordan compared the then Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook to a younger version of himself.

“Thirty years ago, that’s me,” Jordan claimed. “The attitude, trying to prove myself. Showing so much passion for the game of basketball. You see it in his play. You can tell he loves the game. He plays with energy and flair.”

 

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A very overwhelmed Westbrook couldn’t believe that the legend himself honored him like that.

“That’s crazy,” Westbrook said after hearing Jordan’s comments. “I really don’t know what to say.”

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“To have the best player who ever played the game to say that about you as a player and as a person is something is going to keep me striving,” he added.

The NBA community knows Michael Jordan to not hand out empty praise. Moreover, he also dislikes being compared to players that came after him. Hence, this praise seems like a real achievement for Westbrook.

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Written by:

Maitreyee Joshi

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