The greatness of Michael Jordan is indisputable. Most of the people who have played with or against him believe he was the greatest player to ever play the game. However, there is one question that has lingered over the legacy of the great MJ. Jordan retired after winning his third straight championship in 1993 and the Houston Rockets took full advantage of this opportunity. Led by Hakeem Olajuwon, they won back-to-back titles as the Chicago Bulls struggled to make the NBA Finals without their talisman. MJ’s return resulted in another three-peat which cemented his legacy as the greatest player of all time.

Rockets legend Kenny Smith has previously stated that his back-to-back title-winning Houston team would have beaten MJ’s Bulls had they faced each other in the Finals in 1994 or 1995. However, during his recent appearance on Draymond Green’s podcast, Smith made a big claim about Dennis Rodman and the Bulls. Rodman joined the Bulls ahead of the 1995-96 season and played a major role in Chicago’s success. His role was played by Horace Grant during the Bulls’ first three-peat. Smith said that without either of the two big men, the Bulls would have struggled even if MJ had played.

“The Bulls were too little then,” Smith said. He continued, “People forget, the reason they lost to Orlando wasn’t Shaq. It was Horace Grant was gone.” Smith also mentioned the fact that during the Bulls’ first three-peat, the Rockets had a 6-2 regular season record against them.

Michael Jordan and the Bulls couldn’t have beaten the Rockets without Dennis Rodman

Smith was vehement about the Rockets overpowering the Bulls. “I don’t think they would have beat us, man. I think they were too little,” Smith doubled down on his claim. However, he believed that Rodman’s presence may have titled the odds in Chicago’s favor. He said, “If they had Rodman, they would have beat us probably.”

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He continued, “But no Rodman? No Grant? Oh, we smackin’ them.” While the Bulls failed to make the Finals in 1994 without ‘His Airness’, MJ did return ahead of the 1995 Playoffs. They were overpowered by Shaquille O’Neal and the Orlando Magic. That offseason, the Bulls acquired Rodman and the rest is history.

Even though Smith claimed his Rockets would have beaten MJ’s Bulls, he was full of praise for the 6x NBA champion. “Michael Jordan is, to me, the greatest player to ever touch the basketball,” Smith stated. He continued, “I’m actually glad that we didn’t play them because I love the resume he has that he’s never lost in the Finals. Because as a basketball fan, that’s a great resume.”

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While it is now easy to say what could have happened 28 years ago, the Rockets seemed like the only legitimate contender to dethrone MJ’s legendary Bulls. However, they never faced each other in the Finals. Who do you think would have come out on top in their matchup? Let us know in the comments.