In his prime, Michael Jordan was the epitome of basketball greatness. But what about in his late thirties? “You wasn’t going to just move him lightly,” recalled 2004 NBA champion Rasheed Wallace, describing a 38-year-old Jordan who joined the Washington Wizards, where he was nominated twice for NBA All-Star. In a recent podcast, Wallace opened up about why he believes Jordan was even more dangerous during his time with the Wizards.

During the Sheed & Tyler Podcast, Rasheed Wallace was asked, “How good was Michael Jordan on the Wizards?” Wallace’s response was surprising. While acknowledging Jordan’s prime years, Wallace emphasized that MJ’s stint with the Wizards revealed a different, perhaps more formidable version of the basketball icon.

“I think he was a little bit more dangerous with the Wizards. He didn’t have the athleticism that we are used to seeing MJ have, but… his angle was more a little bit more sharp,” Wallace stated, highlighting how Jordan’s game had evolved over the years.

It was in 2001 that MJ came out of his retirement after being the Wizards’ president of basketball operations for a year and a half. Rasheed Wallace was with the Portland Blazers by then and got to lock horns for about 2 games. Though the tally remained 1-1, and His Airness was aged 38, his imposing game was yet evident.

Averaging 22.9 points per game, not only did MJ reach the 10th-highest mark in the NBA, but he also became the leading scorer for the Wizards. He also put up 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Wallace thus noted that Jordan had adapted his style of play, becoming “more solid as that veteran player during his years in Washington.” This, he iterated, required two or three guards to move him.

However, while Wallace has been an admirer of Jordan’s game, he hasn’t missed out on being a critical observer either.
In a recent podcast appearance, Rasheed Wallace boldly stated the NBA has exaggerated that Michael Jordan’s defensive prowess. “Mike wasn’t all that good of a defender,” Wallace claimed. He suggested that the narrative around Jordan’s defense was more about marketing than reality. “All that’s NBA sh**,” he added.

However, Wallace did acknowledge his respect for MJ, while pointing out instances where Jordan’s defense faltered. “I seen this m**f** get his a** bust where he couldn’t stop a m**f,” Wallace said, referring to specific matchups. He mentioned players like JR Rider, Clyde Drexler, and Joe Dumars, who all had moments where they outplayed Jordan. “Sh** don’t forget the early Joe Dumars,” Wallace emphasized, highlighting that Jordan’s defense was not always as impenetrable as some might think.
Moreover, Gilbert Arenas, who was also on the podcast, supported Wallace’s view. Arenas suggested that Jordan’s teammate, Scottie Pippen, was a much more consistent defender. According to Arenas, Jordan benefited from the overall team dynamics and Pippen’s defensive skills. “Sometimes we’re judging people on the individual matchups where it’s not the entire picture,” Arenas noted.