“That S**t Be Rough”: Rockets Legend Admits to ?Sleepless Nights” Over Michael Jordan and Having to Guard Him vs Bulls

The 1994 Houston Rockets squad is arguably one of the most underrated rosters in history. Robert Horry, Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith, Vernon Maxwell, and Hakeem Olajuwon were a force to reckon with. Perhaps the biggest ‘what-ifs’ in NBA history is if the Rockets would have beaten the Bulls had Michael Jordan still been in the league. They went back-to-back for the 1993 and 1994 seasons, and Olajuwon took home the Finals MVP in both those outings.?

Micheal Jordan’s absence after his first three-peat is one of the NBA’s biggest mysteries. He played minor league baseball with the White Sox after his first retirement. MJ had reached the pinnacle of his career and left the NBA as he felt he had nothing to prove. Vernon Maxwell, an invaluable part of the Rockets’ winning roster, took to the ‘No Chill with Gilbert Arenas’ podcast to share his thoughts on Jordan.?

He talked about guarding Jordan and having sleepless nights because of it. Michael Jordan had instilled fear in almost every player that faced him. Maxwell talked about marking the dates that the Rockets player the Bulls and having to mentally prepare himself. Jordan would enter his opponent’s head with his antics on the court, and Maxwell was on the receiving end of it.?

Maxwell also called out Ja Morant and his father and basket to put respect on Michael Jordan’s name. Vernon talked about facing the best player the NBA has ever seen. He still defended his Rockets side with their winning record against Jordan. Regardless, the Houston Rockets legend was all in praise of Michael Jordan.

Rockets legend Vernon Maxwell talks about Michael Jordan

Maxwell played with Hakeem Olajuwon, who was a legend during Michael Jordan’s era. Vernon talked about the ‘dog’ mentality MJ had. He praised Michael Jordan for defeating the ‘Bad Boy’ Detroit Pistons. According to him, youngsters today are not aware of the fear of Jordan that other players had.?

Vernon said, “The night before you ask me, it’s sleepless nights, that s**t be rough. I mean, man think about what you got to do tomorrow, and you don’t want to get embarrassed, and you know this m****** f***** don’t know how to stop coming at you.”?

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He called Michael Jordan the best player ever and talked about how hard it was to stop the Chicago Bulls legend.

Maxwell and Gilbert Arenas talk about Jordan competing with the ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons

Unsurprisingly, Michael Jordan was a part of the ?NBA 75 inductees along side NBA greats like Isiah Thomas, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.

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Michael Jordan won six titles in his NBA career. And Vernon Maxwell’s account of Jordan just proves how great he was.?