Nick Anderson has finally clarified one of the most misunderstood moments of his NBA career: his remarks about Michael Jordan during the 1995 playoffs.
In an interview with NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Anderson revisited the controversy that erupted when he compared Jordan’s performance wearing No. 45 to the legendary No. 23.
“I was just answering a question,” Anderson explained, emphasizing that his comments were taken out of context as Jordan made his return after a brief retirement.
At the time, Jordan had only played a handful of games after rejoining the Chicago Bulls, while Anderson and the Orlando Magic had completed a full season.
The difference in conditioning was obvious, but the media seized on Anderson’s words and framed them as an attack on Jordan’s ability.
Anderson insists he never meant to disrespect Jordan, highlighting that his statement was merely an honest assessment of the situation.
“Of course, he didn’t have his legs like anybody else would,” Anderson said, noting the difficulty for any player coming back midseason.
The backlash grew even larger when Jordan switched back to wearing No. 23 during the series, leading many to speculate that Anderson’s comments triggered the change.
According to Anderson, the situation was never as personal as the media portrayed it.
“He did that, but the question made it seem like I said 45 is nowhere near 23,” Anderson recalled, pointing to the media’s role in distorting his message.
Despite the public fallout, Anderson and Jordan maintained a strong relationship off the court.
“After our careers were over, me and MJ used to hang out all the time,” Anderson shared, mentioning their frequent meetups with Charles Oakley in Atlanta.
Anderson also revealed a sign of Jordan’s deep respect: during Jordan’s first retirement, Anderson was selected to wear Jordan Brand sneakers featuring his own number stitched onto them.
“He picked me as one of the guys to wear his shoes when he retired,” Anderson said, a point he described with visible gratitude.
Throughout the discussion, Anderson made it clear there was never any bad blood between him and the six-time NBA champion.
“That’s my dude and I have the utmost respect for him,” Anderson concluded, reaffirming the mutual admiration that outlasted their competitive battles.
