When it comes to judging the ability of an NBA player, few individuals are more qualified to give an opinion than Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls legend is widely considered to be the best player to ever set foot on a court - and he has the accolades to back up his reputation.
With NBA titles to his name across two separate stints with the Bulls, only a select few have bettered Jordan's haul in the history of the sport. 'MJ' also had a tremendous influence on the global rise of the NBA's popularity during the 1990s, making him one of the most important figures in NBA history.
Jordan was such a fierce competitor on the court that a number of his peers openly admit that they don't care for him personally. However, Jordan has often given his rivals their flowers when talking about them and even did so while he was an active player.
Michael Jordan's career highlights (selected)
6x NBA Champion
6× NBA Finals MVP
5× NBA Most Valuable Player
14× NBA All-Star
3× NBA All-Star Game MVP
10× All-NBA First Team
10× NBA scoring champion
3× NBA steals leader
2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
Per Finest Magazine, Jordan conducted an interview during the Bulls' 1996-97 Championship-winning season in which he named the five most underrated players of his era. Below is a look at each of his picks.
5 NBA Players Michael Jordan Believed Were Underrated During His Own Playing Days
Scottie Pippen
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Jordan may have argued that Pippen was underrated, but that hasn't helped to improve Scottie's opinion of 'His Airness' today. The pair were teammates were each of the Bulls' Championship wins in the Jordan era, sharing the court together 691 times. However, the experience isn't one that Pippen remembers fondly. Speaking in 2023, the small forward admitted that Jordan was 'horrible to play with':
"I’ve seen Michael Jordan play before I came to play with the Bulls. You guys have seen him play. He was a horrible player. He was horrible to play with. It was all 1-on-1, shooting bad shots. And all of a sudden, we become a team, and we start winning. Everybody forgot who he was."
Pippen's dislike of Jordan is so great that he refuses to acknowledge him as the NBA GOAT - and the duo may never see eye-to-eye again.
Scottie Pippen Related
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Tom Gugliotta
Tom Gugliotta in NBA action
A versatile six-foot’10” forward, Gugliotta represented the likes of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Phoenix Suns and the Boston Celtics. He had no problem finding the net from both close and mid-range, and could also pass the ball with the precision of a guard. The 1997 All-Star never managed to win an NBA title, though, and saw his career badly hampered by a knee injury suffered while playing for the Suns in 1999, meaning he never fulfilled the potential that Jordan saw in him.
Bobby Phills
Bobby Phills in the NBA
A defensive standout, Phills proved his class by successfully guarding Jordan while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. 'Air Jordan' even called Bobby the toughest defender he ever played against. However, there was more to Phills' game than defense. His three-point shooting was also top-class. He amassed a 39.0% three-point shooting percentage across his career. Tragically, Phills was killed in a car crash in January 2000, while an active member of the Charlotte Hornets' roster.
Mookie Blaylock
Mookie Blaylock
Across spells with the New Jersey Nets and Atlanta Hawks, Blaylock put up numbers that mirrored the best guards in the league, but rarely received the same credit as some of his peers. Blaylock offered plenty in terms of offense, too, averaging 6.7 assists per game. His creative approach to the sport meant that no-look passes were a regular occurrence when Mookie was playing. At his peak with the Hawks, Blaylock also hit 2.3 three-pointers per game. Despite his talent, he would never win an NBA Championship.
Mitch Richmond
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A prolific scorer who represented the Sacramento Kings in Jordan's prime, Richmond had an enviable all-round game. Mitch thrived on disrupting opponents’ offenses, averaging 1.3 steals per game. His long-range shooting was also a strength. He ended his career with a 38.9% three-point shooting average, hitting 1,326 in total. Although he didn't win an NBA title with the Kings, he did finally get his hands on the prize with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002.
Michael Jordan in a Chicago Bulls jersey with a silhouette of Robert Parish with a background of an NBA indoor court and training facility Related
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Michael Jordan once claimed he didn't like being called the GOAT of basketball, as it made him feel bad for two players.