In a revealing interview on The Old Man & The Three podcast, former NBA star Jamal Mashburn disclosed a pivotal conversation he had with Michael Jordan that revolutionized his approach to the game.
Mashburn recounted his encounter with Jordan during MJ’s final All-Star Game as a Wizard, where the basketball icon imparted invaluable insights into his playing style and strategic mindset.
Reflecting on their one-on-one interaction, Mashburn revealed Jordan’s analytical breakdown of his game, highlighting tendencies and offering solutions to enhance his performance on the court.
“As a player, I had the fortune to play against Michael Jordan in his last All-Star Game when he was a Wizard and Mariah Carey sang and all these different things. She was wearing a Wizards dress and everything like that,” Mashburn told JJ Redick.
“But I got a chance to spend time with Michael Jordan. We play one-on-one before the layup line and different things like that. I always knew Michael Jordan was great, but when I chatted with him and he was able to break down my game analytically ‘Jamal, you like to get left 80% of the time, pull with the right hand’ and different things like that.
Jordan’s advice centered on the concept of playing the “game within the game,” emphasizing the importance of diversifying offensive maneuvers to keep defenders off balance.
“But then he gave me a solution,” Mashburn continued. “‘Go right two or three times in the game’ and then gave me a story. He said ‘Dr. J and Larry Bird passed something down to me to play the game within the game.’ And I said ‘Well, what are you referencing?’ He was like, ‘Well, in the game sometimes I’m not just going to score, it’s how I’m going to score.
“So Jamal, if you go right two or three times in the game and you make a pullup jump shot or right-hand layup or whatever it is, you’re balancing out your game, you’re keeping the defense off balance.’
“And this man went through every All-Star and chatted about what their strengths and weaknesses off the top of his head and I sat there and I was like, I thought I knew “a lot about basketball, but he’s on a different level from how he looks at it, scouts it, observes it, implements it.
Implementing Jordan’s guidance, Mashburn saw immediate results, scoring 50 points in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies shortly after the All-Star break.
“I want to say probably six or seven games after the All-Star break I implemented that, scored 50 [points] on the Memphis Grizzlies. Just by turning the other way. When we saw him again playing the Wizards, I think he had 40 [points] or something and I had 39 and he was like, ‘Damn, I gave you some stuff to think about and you implemented.’ And I was like ‘Yeah, I really appreciate it,'” Mashburn recalled.
The impact of Jordan’s wisdom extended beyond individual success, as Mashburn recognized the basketball legend’s unparalleled understanding of the sport and his ability to impart knowledge to others.
Drawing parallels between Jordan and LeBron James, Mashburn praised both players for their commitment to continuous learning and their capacity to mentor and inspire the next generation of athletes.
“But just his insight and knowledge of the game. I see LeBron [James] in that same regard of being able to pass along information and being the student of it, but also being able to communicate it and teach it to others and just not preach it. So Michael Jordan is always going to be one of my favorites,” he said.
