Michael Jordan's question to Nikos Galis after watching him dominate in 1983: "Why are you here? Why aren't you in the States?

Michael Jordan’s question to Nikos Galis after watching him dominate in 1983: “Why are you here? Why aren’t you in the States? originally appeared on Basketball Network.

Greek basketball legend Nikos Galis recently appeared on Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s podcast, a show that dives deep into hoops history.

The middle Antetokounmpo brother said he, as always, did his research and therefore didn’t miss Gallis’ iconic 1983 clash against the University of North Carolina — and Michael Jordan.

That nostalgic moment naturally became a key topic during the candid interview, with Galis sharing revealing insights — including what the future Chicago Bulls icon said to him after the game.

Jordan vs. Galis

On November 20, 1983, MJ and his North Carolina teammates traveled to Athens for a friendly against the Greek national team.

However, what started as a team game quickly turned into a duel between the two top scorers: Jordan and Galis.

At the time, 20-year-old Mike was one of the nation’s top prospects, coming off his sophomore season, averaging a solid 20.0 points per game for UNC and earning First-team All-ACC honors.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Nik, already a European star with Aris Thessaloniki, had just dominated EuroBasket as the tournament’s leading scorer, putting up an impressive 33.6 points per contest.

Ultimately, in this aforementioned matchup, the two shooting guards showed exactly what their reputation as offensive powerhouses was all about. By the end of the game, Galis had put up 24 points, while MJ led all players with 34.

“Michael was a young boy at this time. He was playing for North Carolina. But he showed signs, even at a young age, that he was going to be something special,” Nikos recalled of the future six-time NBA champion and five-time MVP.

Galis and the NBA

Despite the 100–83 loss to the visiting Tar Heels, Galis walked away with something unforgettable — Jordan’s praise. Speaking to Greek reporters after the game, MJ famously said, “I didn’t expect to see such a scorer, especially from your country.”

Even more meaningful than the public recognition, Mike pulled Nikos aside after the game and shared a few words that stayed with him.

More than four decades later, sitting down with the Antetokounmpo brothers, Galis could still recall the moment word for word.

“Why are you here? Why aren’t you in the States?” Galis said Jordan asked him.

From today’s perspective, the question — one the six-footer had certainly heard more than once — made perfect sense. After all, in terms of pure talent, Galis was operating on a whole different level than any of his teammates — and most players in Europe, for that matter.

So why didn’t the now 68-year-old ever make the move to the NBA, often considered the ultimate stage for any aspiring basketball player?

Galis, who was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1979 but missed training camp due to injury and then returned to Europe, said he gave Jordan a simple answer.

“I said, ‘Because I love it here,'” he remarked.

Sure, Nik, who was born in New Jersey and had attended both high school and college in the U.S., admitted he sometimes thought about going back. He even called it a dream to play in the NBA. But the FIBA legend approached it with realism — and in the end, staying in Greece just felt right. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad call after all. As the saying goes, sometimes the grass just isn’t greener on the other side.

Either way, he — just like Jordan — ended up in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, an honor reserved only for the sport’s crème de la crème.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.

Michael Jordan’s question to Nikos Galis after watching him dominate in 1983: “Why are you here? Why aren’t you in the States?

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