"I haven't dwelled on it at all" - Antawn Jamison wasn't fazed by Michael Jordan's legacy in their first epic duel
Antawn Jamison entered the NBA the very next season after Michael Jordan retired in 1998. Three years later, MJ made his epic NBA return, and on November 9, 2001, Jamison found himself face-to-face with "His Airness" for the first time in his career.
Jamison was playing for the Golden State Warriors at the time and as expected, most of his teammates succumbed to the excitement and unexplainable feeling of playing against the GOAT. However, 'Tawn remained undaunted.
"I haven't gotten into it whatsoever," Jamison said ahead of the Warriors' first game against the Washington Wizards that season. "A lot of people get wrapped up in it -- I haven't dwelled on it at all. Once we're out on the floor, there will definitely be a sellout; the adrenaline is going to start pumping. There's going to be atmosphere. When the lights come on, I'm going to get caught up in being 2-3 (and not with Jordan)."
The Warriors struggled not to get caught up in seeing MJ play
Taking a quick trip down memory lane, the game took place in Washington. It was the Wizards' sixth game into the season, and Jordan was still hot, having pulled off a 32-point performance against the Boston Celtics.
On the other hand, Jamison and the Warriors were on the second game of their first long road trip of the season. Stating the obvious, both teams haven't gotten their rhythm yet.
That said, there was a great mix of nervousness and awe in the air as the Warriors geared up to face Jordan. They understood the importance of not getting starstruck by MJ's presence on the court, but most of them admittedly struggled to shake off their surreal feelings.
"We have to play him like he's another good player," then-Warriors coach Dave Cowens said of Jordan. "I don't want to get too fixated with him."
"It will be a big deal all year," Warriors guard Larry Hughes said. "You have to get those things aside and don't get caught up in watching. I'm looking forward to it… It's going to be Jordan, but you just have to get into the game."
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"I feel better facing him now than four, five, six years ago," Bob Sura added. "You've still got to respect him -- he looks good. He doesn't have the explosiveness (he once did), but over the years has made himself a good jump shooter. He's drawing more interest in the league, which helps all of us."
"You've just got to go out there and play, not look at him as Michael Jordan, superstar, but Michael Jordan, the player. Even though he's the greatest player ever," noted admitted Jordan's avid fan Jason Richardson.
It was a Jamison vs. Jordan showdown
As the game progressed, it became clear that Jamison wasn't distracted by Jordan's aura. If anything, Antawn was even fueled by the opportunity to test his skills against the greatest player of all time.
Despite the buzz surrounding the matchup with MJ, Jamison stayed in the moment and was fully present in the game. Before long, it became more and more apparent that it was a Jamison vs. Jordan showdown.
Jamison finished the game with 26 points, while Jordan led all scorers with a game-high 32 points. Unfortunately for the Wizards, the Warriors prevailed, 109-100.
Jordan still wanted to win in his return in 2001
Despite the physical limitations due to his age, Jordan still proved that not one bit had changed in his competitive drive. His determination to succeed and lead his team to victory was still very evident in every game he played, proving that he didn't return for homage and praise but for triumph. This lifted the lid on why he gave Jamison an epic duel in their first matchup against each other.
It didn't take long before Jordan's Wizards teammates realized that he had zero tolerance for underachieving. To this day, former Wizards big man Ethan Thomas still vividly recalls how "His Airness" did the best he could to defy the laws of time and still dominate the game.
"It was the nastiest thing I’d ever seen. They drain his knee, and this black tar, goo-looking stuff came out, and I asked him, ‘You’re MJ, you don’t have to play, why are you doing this?’ He looked at me and shook his head, but he had no answer. His drive and push? He had all of that," Thomas once remembered.
Looking back, it's safe to say that Jordan still performed at a high level, even during his brief and somewhat underwhelming stint with the Wizards. Despite not achieving the same level of success he did with the 90s Chicago Bulls, MJ's dedication and work ethic throughout his time with Washington were truly recognized by the younger generation of NBA players.
In conclusion, it's safe to say that Jordan's 2001 return may have fallen short of success stories, but it certainly solidified his legacy as the GOAT.
