Despite Watching Michael Jordan’s Bulls’ Three-Peat, Stephen Curry’s Warriors Teammate Has the Highest Esteem for a Non-NBA Team

Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had their most memorable decade in the 90s in the franchise’s history. MJ’s influence inspired the next generation of young athletes, encouraging them to become professional basketball players. NBA legend Kobe Bryant learned so much from the legend that he went on to emulate MJ’s style of play and made it his own.

Not just Bryant, but LeBron James idolized Michael Jordan, considering him a “god” and the reason he fell in love with basketball. James emulated Jordan’s style and wears the No. 23 jersey in tribute to him.

Michael Jordan inspired many, but Stephen Curry’s teammate got inspired by someone else

Neymar Jr, Roger Federer, and soccer legend Thierry Henry found inspiration in His Airness, motivating them in their athletic pursuits. But in a recent interview with Golden State Warriors forward on ‘Podcast P with Paul George’, Draymond Green appeared as a guest and they touched upon a lot of interesting topics.

When asked about his basketball inspiration, Green mentioned the Chicago Bulls as the first team he remembered winning an NBA championship. Green said, “Bulls are the first team that I can vividly remember winning an NBA championship.” But the Bulls weren’t the ones who inspired him to step on the basketball court.

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Seeing players from his nearby hometown succeed at Michigan State and win a national championship fueled his desire to pursue a career in basketball and eventually make it to the NBA. Reflecting on his basketball journey, Green revealed the early inspirations that fueled his passion for the game.

He vividly recalled the Chicago Bulls, a dominant team that captured his attention as they clinched NBA championships. However, it was the triumph of his hometown heroes, led by Morris Peterson, that truly ignited his ambitions. He said, “The Pistons won [NBA Championship] when he was 2 or 3, Mo Pete [Morris Peterson] won the championship in 2000, I was 10 years old… Mo Pete, Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson, Those guys won a championship in 2000…”

He added, “That was the first thing that I was like I can do that and from that point on I wanted to go to Michigan State. I want to go there, I want to be in the NBA.”

Fueled by a strong connection to local basketball icons, he possessed an unwavering determination to reach the NBA.

Notable Alumni from the Michigan State

Players from Flint, Michigan, just a short distance from his own Saginaw roots, achieving greatness at Michigan State University and winning a national championship, drove Green to follow in their footsteps and pursue his own success. Moreover, some of the most well-known figures have come from Michigan State and they are the Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, Draymond Green, Shannon Brown, Jaren Jackson Jr. Jason Richardson, Miles Bridges, Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, and Andrew Hutson.

The university has not just produced great basketball players but from other industries as well, like the legendary actor from The Godfather, James Caan, Sam Raimi, Nick Foles, Le’Veon Bell, and many more.

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