There is indeed no one like Michael Jordan, as evident from the status and aura he still holds. Certainly cut from a different cloth, Mike captured the imagination of millions with his basketball brilliance, being considered the measuring stick for success in the NBA.
The only time coaches thought he wasn’t good enough was when he was cut from his high school varsity team.
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From then on, there was no looking back for Michael, with whatever he touched turning into gold, starting from his NCAA days.
He was running his own race.
Touching down on the subject of Air Jordan’s greatness lately was his former Chicago Bulls teammate, Bill Cartwright. Appearing on the Mike Check podcast, the veteran center discussed Michael’s rare talent.
“He’s just a competitor. He’s just a gifted player. God gave him more talent than everybody else and it’s as simple as that. So he’s just very fortunate that in one of his past lives he must have did something right because God gave a lot this time,” said Cartwright, who spent six seasons with Jordan as his teammate.
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Bill was a first-hand witness to the emergence of Michael as a complete assassin on the court. Cartwright was traded from the New York Knicks to the Chicago Bulls in 1988. He played center and was part of their first three-peat between 1991 and 1993.
Not impressed initially
Growing up watching legends such as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jerry West, impressing Bill was never going to be easy. The third pick in the 1979 draft, Cartwright had already reached All-Star status before Jordan even made his NBA debut.
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However, Cartwright did not immediately take to the hype surrounding MJ and was rather unimpressed.
“Thought he was a really good, young, exciting player. Now, this is my perspective on playing basketball in the league. I grew up with Jerry West, Wilt and a picture of Kareem on my wall. So when I came to the league, who were the guys I admired?” explained Bill, who played against names like Wes Unseld, Dan Issel and Jack Sikma.
Cartwright, who grew up watching players such as John Havlicek and Willie Mays, did not find much initially in a young Jordan to leave him impressed.
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Emerging as a global basketball icon
Undoubtedly, MJ had a significant role in taking the NBA to new levels of popularity. His stardom and impact on the game surpassed borders. Not to mention the Air Jordan signature shoe line and apparel brand, which became a hit among kids and young adults.
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird played a key role in generating new revenue streams for athletes, whether through endorsements, movies, or as angel investors.
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However, Michael took it several steps further, eventually becoming the first NBA athlete to reach billionaire status.
It is a little hard to disagree with Bill when it came to God being a little extra partial with Michael.
That said, the six-time champion and Finals MVP never took anything for granted, putting in the work to get on that level.
His ability to leverage his talent, skills and popularity both on and off the court is what made him a phenomenon.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.