In a weekend filled with iconic NBA All-Star moments, none captured the imagination quite like Michael Jordan’s shocking appearance in Cleveland to celebrate the NBA’s 75th anniversary. As the six-time NBA champion strolled towards the center of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, he surpassed former teammate Dennis Rodman. Standing next to Rodman was the man most frequently compared and measured against Jordan: LeBron James.
Once the initial excitement of Jordan’s surprise introduction settled, eagle-eyed fans shifted their focus to ‘His Airness’ – observing his interactions and conversations. Clips quickly surfaced online, featuring Jordan alongside Dwyane Wade and Jason Kidd, stoic as ever after challenging Magic Johnson to a one-on-one game in the locker room.
A few seconds after Jordan ascended the triumphant stage, cameras caught him playfully teasing Rodman, turning his back to James on Rodman’s left before engaging in conversation with Boston Celtics icon Kevin McHale.
As the footage circulated, fans wondered: Did Jordan, one of the most diminutive athletes ever, genuinely snub James? The prospect of Jordan surpassing James seemed to be turning into a reality, given the notoriously icy relationship between these two basketball legends.
One would expect two legends sharing such proximity in the all-time records to have a healthy relationship, or at least some connection – but no. When James entered the NBA in 2003 as the first overall pick, the man he was frequently likened to, Jordan, had recently retired after a brief stint with the Washington Wizards.
Their first encounter occurred in April 2003, just before James’s rookie season, as he, then a high school phenom at St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, shook hands with Jordan when the Wizards faced the Cleveland Cavaliers, who would sign the 18-year-old prodigy a few months later.
Despite James’s open admiration for Jordan growing up, that love was never reciprocated. The distance between the two stars became even more apparent when compared to Jordan’s relationship with Kobe Bryant, whom he considered a little brother.
In 2010, seven years into his career, James attempted to relinquish the No. 23 jersey across the NBA as a sign of respect to Jordan. He switched to No. 6 but received no response. James wore No. 6 for four years in Miami before returning to No. 23 upon his return to Cleveland in 2014.
James attended Jordan’s extravagant 50th birthday party during All-Star Weekend 2013 in Houston but revealed later that their relationship didn’t improve for reasons unknown to him. “I don’t know why, but it just didn’t click,” he told ESPN.
A year later, they faced off again when James, then with the Miami Heat, encountered Jordan’s Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. The Heat, then back-to-back champions and James the reigning MVP, eliminated Jordan’s team, but not before providing a curious insight into their icy relationship.
Leading 2-0 in the series, the Heat extended the lead against the Bobcats to 17 when James stole the ball and thundered down the court for his signature tomahawk slam. Initially a routine play, the cameras captured James glaring at Jordan, seated left of the basket, as he charged towards the rim.
The footage focused on Jordan seconds after James’s emphatic dunk as his team executed a free throw on the other end, and the former MVP appeared visibly angered, ready to lace up his sneakers once again.
Despite James shattering most of Jordan’s records, he still pursues something truly significant to him: Jordan’s acknowledgment. Former teammate Jared Dudley revealed that James even took up golf, one of Jordan’s famous pastimes, as a potential way to get closer to the basketball icon.
Dudley shared in a 2020 interview with Bill Simmons: “We went golfing one day. We went to go see golf, and that’s what he thought about, trying to get in. To be able to play golf with Jordan… that’s what he was thinking about, trying to get in. For him, he can’t let it go.”
Now in the twilight of his career, James is chasing not just statistics but also a connection. The recent warm embrace at the NBA All-Star 2022 might mark the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship or, history might repeat itself, and the NBA star might find himself snubbed once again.
In the end, James may have surpassed many of Jordan’s numerical milestones, but he still pursues the one that truly matters to him: Jordan’s affection.
As James enters the final phase of his career, owning an NBA team, a desire shared by
