"He is just as good as me; he just doesn't know how to play the game" - Ex-Bull recalls Michael Jordan insulting Clyde Drexler's intelligence
Sometimes, being great in the NBA goes beyond just talent, which is something former Chicago Bulls shooting guard Craig Hodges learned while playing with Michael Jordan.
Hodges recalled MJ telling him that the Portland Trail Blazers' guard Clyde Drexler was just as good as him but lacked the fundamental knowledge on and off the court to reach the same heights of greatness. The legendary shooter sat down for an interview with VladTV and remembered those conversations.
"Not every great athlete is marketable like that, and they have just as much talent. The conversation came up with Clyde Drexler, and MJ said, and I quote, 'Clyde Drexler is just as good as me; he just doesn't know how to play the game. Do you follow me?' And we are not talking about just basketball, and that was the question. What do you mean? 'You know what the fu*k I mean.' That lets you know there is a bigger picture," he said.
More than talent
It's rare that MJ would even acknowledge that someone may be on the same level as him from a talent standpoint. Still, that's exactly how he saw Drexler before destroying him in the 1992 NBA Finals and letting the world know he was, without a doubt, the best shooting guard in the league.
Even so, Jordan always understood that Clyde was one of the greatest ever to grace the Association, but according to Hodges, he also felt that he wasn't smart enough to reach his full potential.
It goes to show that even at the highest level, purely scoring the basketball isn't enough if superstars want to be considered among the very best to ever play. While it is not widely talked about, Mike felt Drexler left a lot to be desired from a basketball IQ perspective and as a businessman.
MJ wasn't lending a helping hand
Unlike players in today's NBA, despite feeling Drexler could use some guidance from a marketing and business perspective, Jordan never offered assistance or advice during their career.
Immediately after bursting onto the scene in his rookie season, Jordan ascended into a savvy businessman but was never interested in passing that on to his peers or the next generation.
Although they were rivals, it's likely that Drexler would have appreciated MJ reaching out. However, it was a different time and a different mentality from the general star today, who usually prioritizes helping to maximize the careers of the rising stars coming through.
I guess no one should be surprised that Jordan never bridged the gap with Clyde, as his borderline psychotic obsession with being the absolute best at everything was no different, even away from the hardwood.
