If someone asked you today who your favorite ’90s shooting guard is, you’d probably say Michael Jordan without even thinking twice. But who comes second? You, me, and a bunch of die-hard fans would probably say Mitch Richmond, aka “The Rock”. Now, we can argue all day, but how about hearing it from MJ himself? Michael Jordan once said, “The Rock was one of the best defenders.” That compliment has serious grounds.

But it gets better; after Jordan’s first retirement, Richmond was handpicked to represent Jordan Brand in the NBA. And, yes, MJ selected him. Now, so many years after hanging up his jersey, Mitch Richmond wants something from Jordan Brand that no one expected.

Mitch Richmond kicked off his career with the Golden State Warriors in 1988,  rocking Adidas and being part of the iconic Run T.M.C. trio. After only three seasons, he was traded to the Sacramento Kings, where he quickly became their star performer. During that time, he switched from Adidas to Nike, and eventually, he was wearing Jordans too.

Nike didn’t officially roll out the Jordan Brand until 1997, making it all about Air Jordans and everything connected to MJ’s legacy. But way before that, back in ’93 when Jordan dipped to chase a baseball dream, Nike had to get creative with the Air Jordan 9 launch. So, what did they do? They picked a handful of NBA guys to keep the line alive. And guess who made the FINAL cut? Along with legends like Penny Hardaway, Hubert Davis, “The Rock” himself, Mitch Richmon made the final cut.

Fast forward to now, Mitch popped up on the All the Smoke podcast and dropped something nobody saw coming. He opened up about his history with Jordan Brand, admitting that while there’s still a connection, it’s no longer an official deal. More like… fanboy territory. He said, “Every once in a while I got to call him now, man, send me a box.” Doesn’t it sound kind of desperate? But then, when that comes from an Olympic gold medalist and one of MJ’s toughest rivals, it’s also low-key hilarious and super relatable. Even legends, it turns out, still chase that elusive Jordan box like it’s Game 7!

Michael Jordan sends flowers to Mitch Richmond’s forgotten flame

It’s a common fact that Michael Jordan went head-to-head with plenty of greats during his prime, but only a few ever got real respect from him, and even fewer got him to talk about it. One of those rare names is Mitch Richmond. In the ‘90s, while a new wave of talent flooded the league, MJ quickly realized who gave him the most trouble. He mentioned Reggie Lewis, who never backed down, and yeah, Mitch Richmond, the often-overlooked flamethrower at shooting guard. And the numbers also don’t lie either.

While Jordan dropped close to 18,000 points that decade, Richmond wasn’t far behind with 16,613, second only to MJ among shooting guards in the ’90s. That’s a wild dream, right? And Jordan didn’t hold back the praise either. He once said, “Mitch is certainly one of the best players in this game…he’s always gonna be a challenge, no matter how you look at it.” Man, those are flowers straight from the GOAT.

Richmond’s career statistics bolster this respect. Over 14 seasons, he averaged 21 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Notably, during the 1990s, he amassed 16,613 points, second only to Jordan among shooting guards in that decade.

In a league where recognition often follows rings and headlines, Mitch Richmond quietly built a legacy worthy of praise. When Michael Jordan singles you out, that’s not just a compliment, it’s a crowning. Yet Richmond’s name still floats under the radar, tucked behind flashier stories. Maybe it’s time we ask: Has history been too quiet about one of its true hoop poets?