Most players in the league in the 1990s admit to being scared of facing Michael Jordan. It was the impact it had on people.
According to Mario Chalmers, the NBA’s idol LeBron James never created.
“Nobody is afraid of LeBron, first of all. He doesn’t cause that in the league. Nobody is terrified because they are going to face him today, for example. I don’t know why, but it is what it is.” Chalmers said.
“I’ve seen guys scared to be around him before the game. Never, however, just thinking about the possibility of marking him.” Chalmers added.
True, Chalmers is not the most liberated person to discuss this subject. He never seemed to look back on his time playing with the winger, despite the titles.
Chalmers has said that he gets little credit for his performance and importance in the Heat’s achievements. That doesn’t change, however, the impression that Jordan bullied the league in a way that LeBron doesn’t.
“People who played against Michael, of his time, report that they were afraid before facing him. This is certainly something different.” Chalmers said.
“If someone shows fear at the thought of what might happen on the court, then you’re up against an athlete with a bigger impact. Michael was that kind of guy, that caused that kind of reaction,” he added.
Jordan’s aura of intimidation is certainly not Chalmers’ invention. Several opponents openly talk about the weight that the presence of the greatest of all time had on the court.
Not just characters, but great basketball players. All-star Steve Nash has never seen a player have the abstract impact on his NBA peers that “MJ” has had.
