Muggsy Bogues unequivocally clarified that Michael Jordan’s trash-talking didn’t ruin his career. In fact, the 57-year-old dismissed such a notion to be ridiculous and nonsensical.

At 5 feet 3 inches, Muggsy Bogues was the shortest player to ever play in the NBA. Despite his height disadvantage, Bogues managed to have a successful basketball career that lasted over 14 seasons.

He played for four different franchises in his career, including the Toronto Raptors, the Golden State Warriors and the Charlotte Hornets. While playing for the Hornets, Bogues faced Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls side in the first round of the playoffs in 1995.

The series proved to be a tough matchup for the Hornets. They lost to the Bulls 3-1.

Muggsy Bogues on Michael Jordan calling him a ‘midget’

During the series, Michael Jordan supposedly said, ‘Shoot the ball, Midget‘ to Muggsy Bogues. It was just one thing amid constant trash-talking by Jordan and the Bulls. Bogues scored just 6 points in the game, while Michael dropped 48 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in a Bulls victory.

Bogues has always maintained a vague approach on whether or not Jordan called him a ‘midget’. But he vehemently denies any claim that Michael’s harsh words ruined his career. “To ruin my career? I mean I played seven more years after that“, said Bogues in an interview.

However, Bogues’ points per game did drop significantly after that series against the Bulls. But he insists that the decline in his career was due to a knee injury and surgery in that area. It had nothing to do with Michael Jordan or the Bulls.

“Just a word-midget-gonna get to me? That’s just ridiculous-doesn’t even make sense to me.”

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The point guard revealed that in that era everybody talked trash to everybody. But it was never anything personal. Therefore, he doesn’t hold a grudge against anybody for saying something during a game.

Michael Jordan was a ruthless trash-talker

It cannot be confirmed whether Michael Jordan really called Muggsy Bogues a ‘midget’. But anybody who knows Michael Jordan wouldn’t put anything past him.

Michael Jordan was relentless and merciless in his endeavors to win. Netflix’s 2020 documentary The Last Dance revealed the fear Jordan generated in his teammates.

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He was always extremely hard on them. He pushed them to the absolute limit to do better. And his efforts eventually paid off in six NBA championships.