“Being around Jordan, I just saw greatness.” That’s how Jamal Crawford described his idol. Just like Michael Jordan, even Crawford started his career with the Chicago Bulls. The 2000 1st round draftee also got the opportunity to meet MJ, which he still cherishes to date. He was even lucky to star alongside his idol in a hit commercial. Since he had watched ‘His Airness’ from a close distance, he had no problem in listing the similarities he saw in Kobe Bryant, his opponent.

“I didn’t play against Jordan in his prime not with the Bulls at least, but he’s that’s how I imagine he was like he was just. Seeing this dude like I mean I just hadn’t seen nothing like it.” Jamal Crawford spoke about his experience facing Kobe Bryant. “The whole athleticism, the will to win, the ferociousness to everything and we talk about turning down no smoke. He ran to the Smoke, he wanted it all.”

The Mamba mentality receives high praise because it instills fear in the opponents. “When people compare like the greatest players ever the one thing they don’t factor in with him is the Fear Factor he gave the defense.” The 3x Sixth Man of the Year even explained that if Kobe Bryant somehow just scored 1 from 17, the opposition would still fear for the comeback. Speaking about the fear factor, earlier this year even Shaquille O’Neal compared Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James.

The 4x NBA Champion even highlighted the missing piece in LeBron’s repertoire. “I’ve heard players say, including myself, ‘I feared Mike [Michael Jordan].’ I’ve heard players in your generation say they feared Kobe,” O’Neal said on ‘The Big Podcast’. “I’ve never really heard any player say they feared LeBron.” Although the LeBron statement could have been friendly banter, but MJ-Kobe part was definitely serious.

JCrossover has been part of the league since 2000, but it was not until 2007 that Kobe Bryant finally acknowledged him. In the same game, the 18x All-Star breached the 20,000-point barrier, but his focus shifted towards Crawford. “He said, ‘Boy, you hot as a pistol,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, man.’ We never had any real dialogue before, and our relationship really took off from there.”

The recently turned free-agent analyst stated that he scored 30 in the second half, which prompted Kobe to approach Crawford. Although it took years for Kobe-Crawford, the moment with Michael Jordan was very quick.

Jamal Crawford won’t forget meeting Michael Jordan for the first time

Right after his draft trade to the Bulls, the Seattle native got a call from MJ’s trainer. “The great Tim Grover — calls me and said MJ said you can meet him.” Crawford was ready and met the 6x NBA champion early in the morning. “MJ is 40 years old, prepping for a comeback to the Wizards, and he’s working out. I’m quiet, I’m like, this is Michael Jordan, and I’m watching how hard he’s working in the gym by himself doing defensive slides.”

It was not just the case of Crawford being impressed by MJ. Even the Chicago Bulls legend reciprocated the same feeling and invited the rookie to train alongside him. Thus, the former Clippers star called the moment “crazy.” Another insane moment happened when Crawford was not only asked to star alongside MJ but to play a younger Jordan.

In 2003, Gatorade launched a commercial called Jordan vs Jordan. Where a young and an old Michael Jordan played against each other and the younger MJ was quicker, but the experienced one had more skills. And Crawford played the role of young Jordan, who asks, “Is IT in you?” The same ‘IT Factor‘, Crawford found in Kobe Bryant. That’s why he was not afraid to compare it with Michael Jordan’s legacy.

“Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.”