There’s No Messing With Him: How Michael Jordan Gave an Epic Reply to Indiana Pacers Legend’s Trash Talking

Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller might have trash-talked a lot in his career but he learned very early that it was not something that you do in front of Michael Jordan.

Miller started his career in 1987 after Indiana Pacers picked him in the first round in the draft. Jordan, by then, would be beginning his third season in the NBA. He had already earned a reputation by then as someone who could do great things.

So, as a rookie, Miller wanted to prove himself to Jordan. The Pacers were playing a preseason game against Chicago Bulls when Miller first came across Jordan.

At half-time, Miller had 10 points while Jordan had four. It was when Miller felt he could go up to Jordan and let him know about it a little.

“‘You’re Michael Jordan, the guy who walks on water?’” he told Jordan then as he later recalled. The Bulls legend didn’t talk much but had his second-half performance did all the talking for him. At the end of the second half, Jordan had 44 while Miller had 12.

“Don’t ever talk trash to Black Jesus,” is what Jordan had to say after the game.

Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller remember the incident in The Last Dance

Jordan and Miller talked about the incident talking in the Last Dance. Jordan remembered the Pacers as a team that gave them a tough time in the Eastern Conference.

“If I had to pick a team that gave us the toughest time in the East, it’d be Indiana,” Jordan said in Episode 9 of The Last Dance.

Miller, who learned a hard lesson from Jordan early in his career, said the two had a unique relationship. From the night when Jordan silenced him, Miller admitted, he never called him Michael Jordan.

“He and I had somewhat of a unique relationship,” Miller said in the episode. “Most people feared Michael Jordan, and rightfully so. But I didn’t fear Michael Jordan like the rest of the league did, and we had to lock horns over it.”

“Black Jesus, Jordan or That Black Cat. I haven’t said him Michael Jordan ever since that nite,” Miller said.