Michael Jordan Wanted to Win So Bad He Even Talked Trash to ‘Space Jam’ Movie Extras

Everyone knows by now that legendary basketball star Michael Jordan is ultra-competitive. His drive to win and be the best is unparalleled. Part of how he displayed his drive was through his trash talking.

After being dominated on the court by Jordan as a rookie, Reggie Miller said that Jordan requested that he refer to him as “Black Jesus.” In another instance, Jordan threw shade at President Barack Obama after playing golf with him:

“I never said he wasn’t a great politician, I just said he was a shitty golfer.”

But Jordan’s frankness is just on display toward high level individuals — anyone and everyone can be a target when you’re competing against His Airness.

During an interview with Grantland, former college basketball player and actor Keith Gibbs revealed just how competitive Jordan could be by telling a story about a pick-up game they played while filming “Space Jam”:

“He didn’t give a [expletive] who you were. When I was doing Space Jam, we played three days. I thought it was over. I had to go out of town. I get a phone call, they’re like, “Why aren’t you here?” I was like, “Oh, they’re still playing?” I had no idea.

I walk in, and it’s Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, Alonzo Mourning, Charles Oakley. Grant Hill shows up. Jerry Stackhouse shows up. Now, all of a sudden it’s an NBA All-Star pickup game.

Yeah, so Jordan … I had to guard Reggie Miller and Michael Jordan in back-to-back games. It was so bad. I was friends with Chris Mills and Tracy Murray — we had been to some camps together. One play, I got switched onto Jordan, because Chris was like, “Keith, you take him.” Jordan hit a 35-footer on me. I mean, it was ridiculous: leg out, tongue out, all that stuff … hit a 35-footer on me and goes, “GET THE [EXPLETIVE] OFF THE COURT.”

h/t: USA Today

Share this Article