Streeter Lecka/Getty Images.
When the Hornets’ season opener tips off Wednesday night, it’ll officially mark the end of the Michael Jordan era.
Jordan sold the Hornets earlier this year to Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin for approximately $3 billion. He was the majority owner of the franchise for 13 years.
In honor of Jordan’s 13-year run, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic collected a ton of stories from former Hornets players.
Former Hornets swingman Gerald Henderson recalled the time that Jordan competed with the team’s second unit during practice. Not only did he play well, he talked trash to Stephen Jackson.
“We were getting our ass kicked for about a week. I show up to the training room the next morning. I was a rookie so I had to get my stuff out of the way first and he’s already in there stretching and he’s got practice gear on. I said “What are you about to do, man?” He said “I’m gonna come up there and kick y’all ass.” He’s in there talking s–t for however long. He comes up there and he gets into our scrimmages. He jumped on our second team. Our first team had like Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace, Ray Felton, and — who else started that year? — Boris Diaw. On our second team it was me, Derrick Brown, D.J. Augustin, maybe Tyrus (Thomas) and somebody else.
He looked like prime Michael Jordan, without the quickness and the jumping ability. But it was just all MJ work. Talking smack the whole time. He kept going back and forth with Stephen Jackson. Jack at that time was like a borderline All-Star. He had a really good season the season before and I think in the media he was talking about how he should have been an All-Star. I guess Jack went to the basket and throws up a shot and the coaches didn’t call a foul. Jack yells out, “Yo, that’s a foul,” this and that. MJ comes down and hits the game-winner. Game’s over and Jack is still talking, “that’s a foul.” Jordan goes “The MFer ain’t never been an All-Star but wants all the All-Star calls.” We was like “Oh, s–t. Damn that was a little harsh.”
Stories like this add to the legend of Michael Jordan. That being said, the Hornets didn’t do a lot of winning with him as their owner.
The Hornets will face the Hawks this evening. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.