Former NBA center Brendan Haywood recently shared his insights on what it was like to play alongside Michael Jordan during his tenure with the Washington Wizards.
Speaking on the Run Your Race podcast, Haywood revealed that even in the twilight of his career, Jordan commanded respect and fear from opponents across the league.
“Yes [players feared Jordan],” Haywood stated, via HoopsHype. “You got to realize what time it was. The young dudes in the league that were coming into the league grew up watching MJ, kind of like the young guys in this league now looking at LeBron like, ‘Oh my God, I’m playing against LeBron.’”
Jordan, who played two seasons with the Wizards from 2001 to 2003 after retiring for the second time in 1999, was known for his relentless competitiveness. Despite being in his late 30s and no longer at his physical peak, the six-time NBA champion still left an indelible impression on players and teammates.
“He didn’t want to lose nothing. You can’t pay for that,” Haywood said, recalling Jordan’s legendary drive during practices. “You get to see the best of all time and you get to see what makes him that. Just in practice, he didn’t want to lose at all.”
Haywood, who joined the Wizards after being traded from the Orlando Magic, recounted how Jordan himself was instrumental in bringing him to Washington. “Then I get the call, my agent’s like, ‘Yo, I got good news and bad news.’ He’s like, the bad news is you’re getting traded from Orlando. The good news is you’re getting traded to the Wizards and Michael Jordan made the trade for you.’”
The opportunity to play alongside Jordan was both a daunting and surreal experience for Haywood, who grew up idolizing the basketball icon.
“At this point, we already knew he was coming back. So I was like, ‘Oh wow, okay,’ and so it was just getting a chance to go to the Wizards… I’m getting a chance to play with Michael Jordan. It’s incredible,” Haywood added.
Jordan’s time with the Wizards may not have produced playoff success, but his influence on the team and the league remained undeniable. He averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists during his stint with Washington, numbers that showcased his ability to compete even at an advanced age.
